Bulletin 23: Further Simple Questions and Answers

Q10:  

Why does the Bill provide for an advanced stage of an incurable illness that is not terminal?

A:

A person with an advanced stage of an incurable illness may suffer just as badly and without relief, but for a much longer time, as a person with a terminal illness.  For example, the advanced stages of motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis and especially AIDS can be relentless and cruel.  The Bill permits people with an advanced stage of an incurable illness to seek assistance just like the terminally ill.

Q11:

Why does advanced incurable illness have further qualification criteria?

A:

A person with a terminal illness will die in the foreseeable future.  However, a person with an advanced stage of an incurable illness that is not terminal may live for up to several years despite their suffering.  Therefore, there are several further mandatory consultations and a further cooling off period: increased qualification criteria that are in proportion to the additional length of life the sufferer may be giving up.

Q12:

Why doesn’t “terminal illness” have an expected time to death required, for example 6 months as in the Oregon Death With Dignity Act?

A:

The Victorian Bill is stricter than the Oregon Death With Dignity Act 1997.  In the Victorian Bill the person must not only be terminally ill but also suffering intolerably. The Oregon Act for an entirely different reason stipulates that only patients assessed as having less than 6 months to live may potentially use the Act.  The reason is that in Oregon, patients so assessed then automatically qualify for free hospice care.  This removes the issue of health care costs in Oregon potentially motivating requests to die under the Act. Australia has universal health care cover, whereas the USA does not except where a patient has been assessed with less than 6 months to live.