New guidelines an olive branch for VAD opponents

New guidelines will detail how doctors can conscientiously object and make it clear church-run hospitals must be consulted if their patients want access to voluntary assisted dying.

New guidelines will detail how doctors can conscientiously object and make it clear church-run hospitals must be consulted if their patients want access to voluntary assisted dying in an olive branch to opponents.

But the Palaszczuk government will not change proposed legislation to appease faith-based groups as debate gets under way ahead of a historic vote Thursday.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk created uncertainty last week when she flagged potential changes to the Bill following vocal opposition from leaders of faith-based organisations, who called for amendments to prevent the practice occurring at their facilities.

But cabinet on Monday resolved to progress the Bill in its original form, which is expected to pass. However, it agreed to release proposed guidelines outlining concerns held by church-based organisations, with Deputy Premier Steven Miles to announce them on Tuesday.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles. Picture: Peter Wallis

The enforceable clinical guidelines will set out how health workers may exercise their right to conscientiously object, making it plain that staff cannot be forced to take part in any part of a process happening on campus. They will guide policies around requests for information about VAD, the transfer process to other facilities and how clinical risk is to be assessed in determining whether someone can reasonably be transferred or not, including that the person’s treating clinicians be consulted.

And they will detail how visiting doctors should work with a facility they need to visit to carry out VAD.

Mr Miles will tell parliament the guidelines were in recognition of the important contributions of organisations such as the Mater and St Vincent’s.

“It should provide some certainty to providers that their concerns, such as arrangements for transfers and notification of non-participation prior to admission are clearly outlined,” his speech reads.

Meanwhile, it’s understood LNP deputy leader David Janetzki will introduce a collection of private member’s amendments early in the debate on Tuesday. But some MPs were incredulous on Monday night that amendments hadn’t been publicly released already, considering the limited time to properly scrutinise changes.

Tonight we gathered to remember those we've lost, those who currently have a terminal illness and in support of VAD.
Queenslanders nearing the end of their life should have greater choice about how, when and where they die.
That’s why I’ll be supporting Queensland’s VAD bill. pic.twitter.com/oZOvCemcS0

— Steven Miles (@StevenJMiles) September 13, 2021

Terminally ill Queenslanders and advocates spoke at a media conference before a candlelight vigil outside Parliament House on Monday night, urging MPs not to tinker with the Bill which was drawn up by the Queensland Law Reform Commission and widely consulted upon.

John Ancliffe, who has motor neurone disease and spoke through a digital device, said he had heard the arguments of opponents but that “this is not a choice of death instead of life, I am dying, full stop”.

“For the state government to then sentence me to suffer until nature ends my life by restricting my breathing to the point of suffocation, I find that ridiculous, cruel and reprehensible,” he said.