- LETTER TO MINISTER FOR HEALTH (Vic) 16/02/06 -
The Hon. Bronwyn Pike
Minister for Health
484 William Street
Melbourne, 3003
Ref: My letter to your Department dated February 1, 2006
Dear Minister,
I received a courtesy letter from the Minister for Aged Care, dated February 6, signed by Mr McKenzie, Chief of Staff, acknowledging his correspondence from me in a similar vein to my previous correspondence to you, a copy of which is enclosed herewith.
At the time of writing I was not aware that my letter was actually about the subject of voluntary euthanasia but on reflection I suppose its tone has a leaning towards it so I thought I had better clarify my requests better, with less detail to specifics to avoid confusion.
My first request was to be directed to where I may obtain a comprehensive detail of the Victorian Health Budget, which would also include costings of suicide attempts and those that are successful in the State of Victoria. I also asked, if the age of the suicidal person was available?
My second request was to ask what has happened if anything to the Resolution (the wording of which was provided in full) that was successfully adopted at the last ALP State Conference in December, 2005. The Resolution deals with the legality of a person’s wishes in the final stage of their life, and although amended from that of the Health Policy Committee Recommendation, is still “something better than nothing”!.
As the Minister for Health I have been led to believe this Resolution now rest solely with you. As an Ordinary Branch Member of the originating ALP Meeting, I would like to think that three years plus of work will not sit unattended by those who do not personally agree with the sentiments expressed by quite a number of people, from the Branch level, which took nearly six months in itself, to the Health Policy Committee, 2 years, through three State Conferences and now it rests with you, as Minister for Health.
Strangely, I was always under the impression that the Labor Party was of the people for the people. A wonderful program called Labor in Crisis; Background Briefing ABC February 5, singled handedly sorted me out on that score. For twenty six years solidly I have been a loyal supporter of this Government, but I can now ask myself, Why?, it is doing “nothing for me” not even the courtesy of maintaining an information flow on a subject matter which can only be dealt with at a political level, Legislative Change.
If I could walk into Parliament and represent myself and other like minded individuals on these views I would, but I can’t get a Politician with enough bottle to stand up for the 72% of the population who want the Law changed with strict guidelines. Abuse! by the Medical Fraternity? A doctor can be automatically barred from receiving financial gain from any patient, and this should already be in Law, so that argument is ridiculous! In this debate, no where is the patient the first and only priority! I’m told that the medical staffs are afraid of people dying on their watch, that fear of litigation will override a compassionate decision to hasten death. I’ve said it a hundred times, there comes a time in some people’s lives that the living is just not worth the agony of it all. Sympathy is not enough. People need practical support.
For those with a religious belief in the Almighty’s supreme Right to Life, goody for them, for those of us who do not hold a religious faith we have no such impediments and so our priorities tend towards dying with medical assistance, even if we swallow the pill ourselves. We just need the prescription written by a doctor unfortunately. Self help means decisions have to be made earlier than otherwise might be the case.
Not everyone given a choice will take that choice! People just need the reassurance of knowing that choice in an option.
The constant buck passing is extremely annoying, both at a State and Federal Level. It does explain to me though why people go outside the law to achieve aims, because the talk does not meet the needs of the “real” people. It is why Exit is so “popular” because people have genuine intolerable pain with their chronic and terminal illnesses that Governments can provide for, but chose to ignore. But then, dying doesn’t really need a doctor present, a very natural act which we will all undertake, the manner of it can sometimes be improved upon.
As Minister for Health I am asking you to improve on the process of dealing with the dying, for those who want the choice in the manner this may occur.
My third request had to do with the frail aged (my friend in a nursing home was cited) where relatives override a person’s wish not to continue with medication. The nurse allowed herself to be intimidated by the strength of the wife regardless of the frail man lying paralysed between them. I don’t know whether Mr Andrew McKenzie, on behalf of the Minister for Aged Care actually read my letter before he referred it on to you, as Health. I would have thought matters in Nursing Homes was precisely his Role but who knows in these days of bureaucratic juggling.
Advised the other day of a 96 yo being implanted with a pace maker, I find the whole “life at any price” mind boggling and wonder whether people will ever be permitted to die gracefully. Again, Minister it explains the success of Exit in the face of Government Offensiveness. There is no point in shooting the messenger, being Dr Philip Nitschke. He at the very least, is an honest and compassionate man.
I appreciate your response to my concerns and thank you for your time,
Mary Walsh
www.yourchoiceindying.com
February 16, 2006
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