Sue's story, and news articles she has appeared in ....
a Lateline story from 1st Nov 2017, the day before the assisted dying legislation went before the upper house
an article written by ABC photo journalist, Jane Cowen, who spent two days with Sue & I early December 2016..
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-07/euthanasia-debate-terminally-ill-victorian-woman-sue-jensen/8057960
an ABC news article 8th December 2016 -
Assisted dying: Victorian Government to introduce bill in second half of 2017
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-08/assisted-dying-bill-to-be-introduced-in-victoria-in-2017/8102972
an ABC new article 6th December 2016 -
Victorian Government set to hold conscience vote on assisted dying after accepting committee findings
http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-06/victorian-government-to-legislate-assisted-dying/8097838
Advanced Care Directives
13th September 2016
Channel 7 6pm news
Advanced Care Directives article in theage.com.au
13th Sept 2016.....
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/voluntary-euthanasia-in-victoria-could-be-a-step-closer-20160913-grf34v.html
Advanced Care Directive Victorian Government Media Release ....
Giving Victorians Certainty On End-Of-Life Care And Wishes
13th Sep 2016
Victorians have overwhelmingly backed the Andrews Labor Government’s historic new laws giving people greater powers to set directives about future medical treatment, including end-of-life care and wishes.
The Government will today introduce the Medical Treatment Planning and Decisions Bill that will recognise advance care directives in legislation for the first time in Victoria, delivering on a key election promise.
Earlier this year the community had its say on the Simplifying Medical Treatment Decision Making and Advance Care Planning position paper to help shape the implementation of the new laws.
Nearly 100 submissions on the position paper were received, with more than 75 per cent supporting the new laws. The laws were overwhelmingly supported by hospitals, health practitioners and professional bodies.
An advance care directive is a legally binding document designed to make a person’s preferences for future medical treatment clear when that person loses the capacity to make decisions themselves.
Existing laws are exceedingly complex and do not provide certainty about how people would like to be supported at the end of their lives.
The Bill will make it clear and simple for health professionals to know a patient’s medical treatment preferences and respect their end-of-life care choices.
A directive includes clear instructions about treatments that a person consents to or refuses. It also features directives about personal values, appointing a medical treatment decision maker and appointing a support person.
People of all ages with decision making capacity will be able to make a legally binding advance care directive. A child’s advance care directive will need to be witnessed by a medical practitioner or psychologist with expertise in capacity development in children.
Anyone who is found to have coerced someone into making an advance care directive could face up to five years in prison, and health professionals who fail to respect advance care directives will face disciplinary procedures.
The Bill takes into account recommendations from Parliamentary Committee Inquiry into End-of-Life Choices. The Government will provide a full response to the Committee’s report in due course.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy
“Our historic news laws will give Victorians the certainty they want and need when it comes to end-of-life care and wishes.”
“We’re putting people’s preferences and values first when it comes to medical treatment decision making.”
“I encourage all Victorians to talk about end-of-life care with their loved ones. It is a difficult, but important discussion to have, so everyone is aware of you and your family’s personal wishes.”
Giving Victorians Certainty On End-Of-Life Care And Wishes
13th Sep 2016
Victorians have overwhelmingly backed the Andrews Labor Government’s historic new laws giving people greater powers to set directives about future medical treatment, including end-of-life care and wishes.
The Government will today introduce the Medical Treatment Planning and Decisions Bill that will recognise advance care directives in legislation for the first time in Victoria, delivering on a key election promise.
Earlier this year the community had its say on the Simplifying Medical Treatment Decision Making and Advance Care Planning position paper to help shape the implementation of the new laws.
Nearly 100 submissions on the position paper were received, with more than 75 per cent supporting the new laws. The laws were overwhelmingly supported by hospitals, health practitioners and professional bodies.
An advance care directive is a legally binding document designed to make a person’s preferences for future medical treatment clear when that person loses the capacity to make decisions themselves.
Existing laws are exceedingly complex and do not provide certainty about how people would like to be supported at the end of their lives.
The Bill will make it clear and simple for health professionals to know a patient’s medical treatment preferences and respect their end-of-life care choices.
A directive includes clear instructions about treatments that a person consents to or refuses. It also features directives about personal values, appointing a medical treatment decision maker and appointing a support person.
People of all ages with decision making capacity will be able to make a legally binding advance care directive. A child’s advance care directive will need to be witnessed by a medical practitioner or psychologist with expertise in capacity development in children.
Anyone who is found to have coerced someone into making an advance care directive could face up to five years in prison, and health professionals who fail to respect advance care directives will face disciplinary procedures.
The Bill takes into account recommendations from Parliamentary Committee Inquiry into End-of-Life Choices. The Government will provide a full response to the Committee’s report in due course.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy
“Our historic news laws will give Victorians the certainty they want and need when it comes to end-of-life care and wishes.”
“We’re putting people’s preferences and values first when it comes to medical treatment decision making.”
“I encourage all Victorians to talk about end-of-life care with their loved ones. It is a difficult, but important discussion to have, so everyone is aware of you and your family’s personal wishes.”
PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA
Reforms recommended for end of life choices
9th June 2016
The Victorian Parliament’s Legal and Social Issues Committee has tabled its final report on its inquiry into end of life choices.
The 49 recommendations have been made after ten months of investigation.
“Our recommendations focus on improvements to advance care planning, palliative care and end of life choices through establishment of a new body, End of Life Care Victoria and enactment of a Future Health Act,” said Committee Chair Edward O’Donohue.
The Committee has recommended that the Victorian Government should, in certain limited circumstances, legalise assisted dying.
“The introduction of assisted dying laws should form part of a much broader reform that gives greater prominence to end of life care,” said Mr O’Donohue.
“This is essential to a patient centred approach with choice for those who need it and comfort for all,” he said.
“The Committee is indebted to the many medical, legal and other experts and organisations who shared their knowledge, expertise and experience in over 1000 submissions and at hearings and meetings across Victoria.
“I particularly respect and thank those individuals most immediately affected by this inquiry, who in the face of their own imminent death were able to share their insights with the Committee.
“It is now time for the Government to act.”
The report and summary booklet are available from the Committee’s website.
A video about the report is available from the Victorian Parliament’s YouTube Channel.
...... coverage of your story is beginning. This is the Age, even though it says WA today. It just first hits the papers there.
http://www.watoday.com.au/victoria/cancer-survivor-says-its-my-health-and-its-my-decision-20160609-gpfdjy.html
Channel 10 news - Thur 9 June 2016 |
Channel 9 news - Thur 9 June 2016
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Channel 7 news - Thur 9 June 2016 |
Channel 2 news - Thur 9 June 2016 |