Therese wants death on her own terms: Queensland voluntary assisted dying bill | ABC News

Therese McLean says her life started to end five months ago.
She said that while she did not know how much longer she had to live, she was unflinching about when that should be.

"I would want to go before I am in nappies and before someone else is cleaning up my excretions as part of [their] daily love for me," Ms McLean said.

"I want to go when people remember me as being peaceful and able to say goodbye."

The 63-year-old was diagnosed with aggressive metastatic breast cancer in early January.
"I was newly retired so I was a bit baffled," she said.

Long a controversial issue, moves to legalise VAD in Queensland have been met with staunch opposition from church leaders, pro-life advocates and others.

It is argued the scheme is an immoral practice and jeopardises high‐quality palliative care as the medically and socially appropriate response to suffering.

Australian Medical Association Queensland (AMAQ) vice-president Dr Bav Manoharan said he was concerned VAD might become an option "people choose … because palliative care is underfunded".

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said VAD does not detract from an obligation to provide high-quality palliative care, but for some Queenslanders suffering from a life-limiting condition, palliative care is "unable to effectively manage their pain, symptoms or suffering".

#QLDVADbill #QueenslandNews

ABC News provides around the clock coverage of news events as they break in Australia and abroad, including the latest coronavirus pandemic updates. It's news when you want it, from Australia's most trusted news organisation.

#ABCNews #ABCNewsAustralia #QueenslandStory