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2 clusters · 8 sources · 3 days · First seen · Last updated

Northern Territory voluntary assisted dying legislation

Overview

The Northern Territory has legalized voluntary assisted dying through the passage of the Rights of the Terminally Ill bill. The legislation was passed via a conscience vote and includes a provision limiting access to patients with a predicted life expectancy of 12 months or less.

The bill contains a controversial “gag clause” that prohibits healthcare professionals from initiating discussions regarding end-of-life options with patients. While the Australian Medical Association Northern Territory (AMA NT) criticized the clause as an “unacceptable intrusion into clinical practice” and labeled the 12-month prognosis requirement as “clinically arbitrary and effectively unworkable,” the government has defended the restrictions. Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby stated the safeguards are intended to protect vulnerable patients from potential coercion.

Entities

Marie-Clare Boothby · Northern Territory · Country Liberal Party · Tanzil Rahman · John Zorbas

Timeline

  1. 3 days ago

    [HEALTH] 6 sources
    Northern Territory passes voluntary assisted dying law

    The Northern Territory has passed a voluntary assisted dying law, though it includes a controversial clause barring doctors from initiating end-of-life discussions with patients.

  2. 5 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    AMA NT urges Northern Territory government to amend assisted dying laws

    The AMA NT is urging the Northern Territory government to remove restrictions from proposed voluntary assisted dying laws, specifically a gag clause and a 12-month terminal prognosis requirement.

Sources

ama.com.au · anmj.org.au · eveningreport.nz · greekherald.com.au · hellocare.com.au · perthnow.com.au · statnews.com · theqldr.com.au