Copyright theage
Keep the issue bipartisanNot everything which comes from Labor is a disaster. Voluntary assisted dying is one bright spot and, approached in the right manner, a bipartisan stance. Hopefully, community attitudes are swaying in favour, and hence the votes of MPs.I have watched too many older friends become vegetables. I would visit, and they didn’t know who I was. I wouldn’t want to inflict that on my family and younger friends.Roderick Smith, Surrey Hills Age does matterIf all the Legislative Council members were in their 80s and 90s, the reforms to the dying with dignity legislation would pass unanimously.Rod Mackenzie, Marshall All we want is dignityI really do cringe over the so-called moral and ethical dilemma that some state MPs go through over assisted dying. One in six Australians live in poverty; many die early through government neglect at both federal and state levels. People who want assisted dying simply seek dignity; the same could be said for those who die at the hands of government neglect. Instead, we have the sanctimonious drivel of those who would deny dignity to those who want to die.By dying, they relieve pressure on the health system. They should be praised for their bravery, not subject to another’s, often religion-driven, version of morality.John Rome, Mt Lawley, WA Opponents so predictableSo voluntary assisted death legislation is in need of an update. How predictable that some, in both religion and medicine, continue to be implacably opposed to the proposition that none should be required but all should be free to access the hastening of a dying that brings unrelievable suffering and adds minimal or zero value to anyone, especially the one who carries this burden.Kenneth Ralph, Belmont It’s optional, not compulsoryHere we go again. Leaders of many faith-based communities in Victoria are urging our politicians to abandon proposed changes to assisted dying regulations.Membership of and adherence to any faith is optional. Access to an assisted dying service is also optional. I have no right to interfere with anyone’s access to their faith. Equally, they have no right to interfere with my access to a reasonable assisted dying service.Members of those faith-based communities may choose to follow their associated restrictive doctrines. I don’t want to and shouldn’t have to.Ken Reither, Gisborne
