Summary

· I examine the Rights of the Terminally Ill (Euthanasia Laws Repeal) Bill 2008, including arguments relating to the rights of people living in territories and the merits of voluntary euthanasia.

· I consider the main arguments in favour of the Bill (supporting the option of legalised voluntary euthanasia in the territories), and I rebut the main arguments used by the clergy and other opponents of voluntary euthanasia, noting that a right to life is not a duty to live.

· I argue that the Bill should be supported because it is consistent with the rights of an individual in a democracy and that the Commonwealth Government should not be enacting legislation for the territories on issues relating to how an individual lives their life. I also draw on arguments relating to religious freedom, tolerance, popular opinion and the economics of health care.

· Most importantly, the needs and desires of terminally ill patients, who would benefit from the enactment of the Bill, must be considered. For many of these people, the quality of life is more important than the quantity of life. To deny people choice in their end of life decision making represents moral oppression. Given that 80% of Australians support voluntary euthanasia, including 74% of Australians who are religious, it is surprising that the clergy and other opponents of voluntary euthanasia and the Bill actively seek to impose their religious values on terminally ill patients who do not share their religion.

· In addition, as Australians are currently making drugs and travelling overseas to give themselves a dignified end of life option, it is surely preferable to have legislation supporting voluntary euthanasia, rather than having voluntary euthanasia occurring in secret without controls, as occurs now.

I conclude that voluntary euthanasia is morally just precisely because it is voluntary, that the Euthanasia Laws Act (which prohibits legalised voluntary euthanasia in the territories) should be condemned as a blight on democracy, and that the Bill should be supported.