This follows upon a series of other blows to the pro-euthanasia movement internationally and here at home. Successive defeats in Canada, Tasmania and Western Australia send a clear message that western societies, in the main, understand the problems associated with the practice of euthanasia and assisted suicide and are prepared to act for the protection of every citizen even in the face of polling to the contrary.
There's a strong message here for all Australians and, at this time in particular, for South Australia, where three euthanasia bills are on the notice papers.
There's a particularly pertinent message for SA Upper House MPs who will debate Greens MP, Mark Parnell's euthanasia bill next Wednesday (24th November) because the MacDonald bill bears some uncanny similarities to the Parnell Bill that are worth noting.
The UK Daily Record: "The End of Life Assistance Bill stipulates that anyone aged over 16 can request help to die. The person must be diagnosed as terminally ill or permanently physically incapacitated, and find life intolerable." Compare that statement to this quote from the Parnell Bill: "…to allow certain adult persons who have an illness, injury or other medical condition…that irreversibly impairs the person's quality of life so that life has become intolerable to that person…" . Like MacDonald, Parnell's bill doesn't use the term euthanasia in the title, preferring the sophistic phrase: End of Life Arrangements.
We can but hope that, like their Scottish counterparts, South Australian members of parliament will recognise the significant damage that any euthanasia and assisted suicide legislation imposes on society; particularly the Parnell version.