Brisbane Times 17 April 2019
Family First Comment: Disturbing comments in Australia..
“We would define such a mature minor as a child over 12 years of age who … has a sufficient understanding and intelligence to enable him or her to understand fully what is proposed,” he said.
Children as young as 12 should be able to choose to end their own lives, with civil libertarians citing European laws as a model that could be replicated in Queensland.
A Queensland inquiry, led by a parliamentary committee, is examining aged care, palliative care and voluntary euthanasia.
Queensland Council for Civil Liberties president Michael Cope said the views of mature minors about voluntary assisted dying (VAD) should be respected.
“We would define such a mature minor as a child over 12 years of age who … has a sufficient understanding and intelligence to enable him or her to understand fully what is proposed,” he said.
“However, we do recognise that children are entitled to extra protection when making their decision.”
Mr Cope said children should be assessed by an independent psychiatrist before their request to die was authorised.
“Secondly, at least one of the independent medical practitioners should have specific qualifications and experience in dealing with children,” he said.
“Thirdly, in the case of children a request for VAD should not be based solely on an underlying psychiatric condition.”
Mr Cope said the suggestion was based on laws in Europe, where 13 minors had accessed voluntary euthanasia in the Netherlands since 2002 and three in Belgium since 2014.
READ MORE: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/voluntary-euthanasia-should-be-available-to-children-civil-libertarians-20190417-p51ex1.html
