Human Interest
Victoria, Australia, legalises assisted dying─── 11:30 Wed, 22 Nov 2017
Victoria has become the first Australian state to give the green light for legalising assisted dying for the terminally ill.
The Upper House voted today (Wednesday) on the (historic) voluntary euthanasia law, after the bill passed the Lower House last month. Karien Jordaan reports that the legislation required amendments to pass the Upper House.
After a 28-hour marathon sitting it was agreed that eligible patients must be over the age of 18, have lived in Victoria for at least 12 months, and must administer the drug themselves, although a doctor may deliver the lethal dose in rare cases. The patient must have six months or less to live, with exemptions for sufferers of motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis, who will be able to access the scheme in their final 12 months. The bill now returns to the Lower House for ratification.
OFM News/Karien Jordaan
