Bob Hawke, former prime minister of Australia, has put his influence to support the campaign to legalize euthanasia.
Bob Hawke said that the debate over the legality of euthanasia in their country is "absurd." In an interview in podcast with broadcaster Andrew Denton, Better Off Dead, Hawke said that opposing to the idea of euthanasia "doesn't meet any requirements of morality and good sense." In fact, Australia has the legal and medical framework to support and manage the law. "I am more than happy for my name to be associated with a clear statement of belief that the time has come where we in Australia should have clear legislation on our books that makes euthanasia legal," Hawke said, according to The Guardian. Denton is another solid supporter of euthanasia after watching his father die over a long period way back 1997.
According to Pedestrian, Hawke cited that the support for legalizing euthanasia in his country reaches 70 percent approval, which means it has a very strong support from citizens and that "scare" campaigns are what held it back over the past years. Those who oppose the idea of euthanasia said that it is an added burden to doctors and does not respect a person's life.
Debates about legalizing euthanasia have been on-going ever since. Different Australian territories are now studying the bill whether to support it or not. The bill was introduced for the 14th time to South Australian parliament last February. While Victoria and Tasmania is expected to have the debate during spring.
Euthanasia, or what they call "assisted suicide" are done to patients who experience "unbearable pains and hopeless suffering" due to terminal illness. Points are divided whether it is a good idea or not. According the The Conversation, those who oppose the idea of euthanasia said that it will face a lot of vulnerability concerns. If a terminally-ill patient started to feel that he or she is already becoming a burden to the family, that person may feel pressured to voluntarily end his or her life even if it is not what they wanted to do. However, those who strongly support euthanasia like Denton, said that guidelines and safeguard legislations can avoid the vulnerability issues. The government may require third parties to check on whether the patient's decision to undergo assisted suicide is purely voluntary and genuine.
Another point of argument here is who will have access to euthanasia? Will it be just for terminally-ill patients or should it be extended to people have unbearable physical or mental condition but not terminally-ill?
The podcast Better Off Dead was started by Denton just last year and has already 17 episodes, including his interview with Hawke which will be released on Wednesday.
