Later this year, Victorian MPs have a life and death decision to make.
They will decide, via a conscience vote, whether their terminally ill constituents deserve the right to chose a medically assisted death.
The legislation hasn’t been finalised yet because the vote isn’t expected until August, but the vocal elements of the ‘no’ camp are shouting at wavering lawmakers, doing their darnedest to drown out surveys that indicate 75 per cent of Australian voters are in favour of such a law.
Joining their chorus next week – by invitation – will be an American professor by the name of William Toffler.
A medical doctor and founder of an anti-assisted dying group called Physicians for Compassionate Care Foundation, Prof. Toffler is one of the United States’ most outspoken voices on the topic.
He’s also a medical professional who argues that abortion is linked to breast cancer and that contraception is “against God’s plan” for married couples.
On Thursday this week, this man will have a private audience with Victorian MPs .
Yes, you read that correctly.
Prof. Toffler will be in the country on a speaking tour sponsored by Right to Life Australia, a group that advocates against abortion, IVF, euthanasia, infanticide and embryo stem cell research. But the doctor’s address to parliament is courtesy of Upper House Liberal MP Inga Peulich.
In an email obtained by Mamamia, the member for the South Eastern Metropolitan Region invites fellow MPs to Parliament to hear a cost-free “chilling presentation” by the Oregon-based MD, who has “seen the dire effects of assisted suicide laws on patients and his profession”.
Top Comments
Can someone tell me why this Professor from AMERICA is coming to talk to our MPs about something that is going to be passed through our legislation?? What does he have to do with our country??? I am very confused about this.
When you need experts you have to go to the best available, that frequently means people not in your country. I know when we were looking for sustainable living experts in my city we certainly didn't limit the search for experts to the people living here.
Or because the ACL couldn't find anyone here who was able to provide the same kind of disinformation and distortion.
The private Religious reasons or thoughts of any politician do not belong in any Parliament and should certainly not guide any vote they cast on behalf of their Australians constituents, because Australian Parliaments are SECULAR! And the division between Church and State is a most vital one that must be upheld.
Nobody is forcing anyone who would want to keep living under all and any circumstances to agree to euthanasia applying to them personally.
If people could make this choice when they are well for their future care, then nobody can say they've been swayed by doctors or family or anyone to partake in euthanasia when the time comes. The right to end ones life when and how we as adults choose, and not suffer unimaginable pain or exist in a drug induced coma until death, is a vital right. The laws we have now are totally INHUMANE.