Michael is joined by Alex Greenwich MP, Independent member for Sydney, who says he would introduce his Assisted Dying Bill bill as soon as Parliament next sits, directly challenging Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s preference to focus on COVID-19.

Mr Greenwich has stated, ‘Voluntary assisted dying will be accessible to adults with a terminal illness that will cause death within six months – or 12 months for neurodegenerative conditions – and where suffering cannot be tolerably relieved. A person must have decision making capacity and be acting voluntarily and without coercion.’

‘Each step of the process must be documented in forms sent to a statutory board which will have oversight, collect data and provide advice to government.’

‘I will add further safeguards, including to legislate appointment of the board by the Attorney General and health minister, and to give the board final authorisation to prescribe the substance – as done in Victoria and included in the Tasmanian and South Australian bills.’

‘The bill will strengthen the definition for decision making capacity and require each doctor to request a report from a psychologist, psychiatrist, or appropriate medical professional to provide this assessment if there is any question over capacity.’

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