Doctors attack MP’s bill to allow aged care homes to evict VAD patients
Susan Carter, who introduced the bill, argues that onsite VAD distresses other aged care residents.
A bill to let faith-based aged care homes refuse to participate in voluntary assisted dying would force terminally ill patients seeking the procedure to transfer to other facilities, doctors say.
NSW Liberal Susan Carter says her private member’s bill, which the state’s Upper House will debate on Wednesday, would align NSW with WA, Victoria and Tasmania.
However, 18 medical, legal and seniors’ rights groups, including the RACGP NSW&ACT faculty, have condemned it “as a retrograde step”.
They argue the bill would unfairly limit residents’ access to faith-based facilities, especially in regional areas where alternatives are scarce.
