About us...
Here at Euthanasia WA, we strongly believe that the elderly in the community who are incredibly sick should be given the option to be euthanised. How can we allow people in our community to suffer, due to Euthanasia being banned? We are a Western Australian Community and need to come together to relieve people of their pain. At the end of the day, an elderly persons death should be their decision. It is that persons choice. Everybody in the elderly community who are suffering deserves to have a 'peaceful passing.'
Why you should support us?
1) People deserve the bodily autonomy to choose whether or not they die. It is our life at the end of the day and we need to exercise this right through choosing. For example, if an elderly man has been diagnosed with a terminal disease and hopes to pass away peacefully through assisted suicide as opposed to dying painfully, this person should have the right to choose to do so.
2) We shouldn't allow people in the community to suffer. For example, if an elderly person is suffering as a result of a painful disease, that person should be allowed to be euthanised, so that they don’t have to continue to endure incredible hardship and agony.
3) Euthanasia protects human dignity. Imagine a life where an illness has left you incapable of conducting the basics of life; you are unable to breathe, move or even think for yourself. You have effectively removed your ability to self-determine, arguably a significant element in being “human”. Our sense of “self” is created as we progress through life. Our personalities grow as human beings through our choices and experiences. This sense of self is the foundation of our human dignity and this is lost when someone becomes terminally ill. Euthanasia can help to ensure that we do not lose our human dignity.
4) Euthanasia can help people to mentally prepare for their loved ones deaths. For example, most people would much prefer to be told that their grandmother is going to pass away, so that they can spent time with that person in their last days, prepare for their death and ultimately, comprehend everything! As opposed to them receiving a call out of the blue, informing them that individual that their grandmother has died. Euthanasia would help so many people, including the families of those involved.
5) Euthanasia makes economic sense. For example, it costs a large sum of money to treat very ill patients and unfortunately, many of them (especially the terminally ill) are going to pass away anyway. While on the other hand, euthanasia has the same result, but costs a mere $75-$100! It allows people to prepare for their loved ones deaths and provides a peaceful passing for the sick.
Why is this issue relevant to the Western Australian Community?
The point of concern for the Western Australian community regarding this issue, is that currently, our state government is allowing innocent people in the community to suffer. A wide majority of the elderly are in horrific pain as a result of illness, don’t they deserve the bodily autonomy to choose whether or not they die? We are a community and we need to band together to legalise euthanasia for the elderly. After my partner and I researched further, we discovered that more than half of Western Australia’s suicides are committed by people over the age of 60 and the majority of these suicides are due to that person having a terminal or debilitating disease. At least one West Australian is taking their own life due to this every fortnight! Yes, some religious groups are unfortunately opposed to euthanasia. However, at the end of the day, it is the ill person who gets the final say. It is that persons choice and religious views should not get in the way of doing what is right. Also, after we did some further research, my partner and I discovered that over 70% of Christians agree with Euthanasia, meaning that it will not be as difficult as we originally anticipated to legalise Euthanasia for the elderly. We need to help those who are struggling in the community.
Our aim:
We would like euthanasia to be legalised for the elderly over the age of 70, in Western Australia. We expect that this will take us at least 6 years for it to become a new act of legislation. It may take a decent amount of time for Euthanasia to be legalised, however we don't think that it will be as difficult to legalise as many people originally assumed. A survey conducted has proven 80% of West Australian Citizens approve Euthanasia. With this amount of people agreeing, we feel that our timeline below is reflective of realistically how long it is going to take for Euthanasia to become a reality for those who are in pain.
Our Timeline:
2018: In 2018, we need to start educating the public on the topic of euthanasia. Our campaign will create Facebook pages, set up a petition, create a website and utilise other forms of promotion. Education is the first step in creating a spark of hope that change can happen.
2019: In 2019, our campaign as well as others will continue to enlighten the public on the topic of euthanasia. In order to eventually legalise it, we need support from the wider community, to back up our case and so that the government becomes interested in the idea. We hope that our petition will continue to gain signatures and the community of WA will be more open to the idea of Euthanasia.
2020: By 2020, hopefully the State Parliament will set up a committee to explore all aspects of the idea and investigate voluntary euthanasia in the State. Hearings will be put into place and proposed legislative changes will be discussed. The committee would also need to create a scope for laws, meaning they would need to clearly highlight who would be allowed to end their lives and under what circumstances.
2021: By 2021, the committee will hopefully report back to the state government. From there, premier Mark McGowan, who agrees with the idea of euthanasia, will try to set a date for a vote to be held for the public. Our campaign will continue to inform the public on the topic through the use of social media, our website and our petition.
2022: Hopefully a bill will come out of the committees work and a vote will be held. We will continue to campaign.
2023: Euthanasia will hopefully be approved and by 2023 this form of passing away will be readily available to those who fit the strict guidelines and parameters.