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Supplementary Order Paper No 330

No 330

House of Representatives

Supplementary Order Paper

Tuesday, 10 September 2019

End of Life Choice Bill

Proposed amendment to SOP No 259

Paulo Garcia, in Committee, to move the following amendment:

Clause 19

In clause 19, replace subclause (1A) (page 17) with:

(1A)

The Director-General must appoint members who the Director-General considers have, collectively, knowledge and understanding of matters relevant to the functions of the SCENZ Group, including, but not limited to, at least 1 member in each of the following categories:

(a)

a person who, in the opinion of the Minister, has obtained relevant qualifications and experience in the field of medical ethics; and

(b)

a person who, in the opinion of the Minister, has obtained relevant qualifications and experience in the disability sector; and

(c)

a medical practitioner whose practice specialises in the area of geriatric care; and

(d)

a medical practitioner whose practice specialises in the area of palliative care; and

(e)

a person who is legally qualified by virtue of having held a practising certificate as a barrister or as a barrister and solicitor for no less than 7 years.

Explanatory note

This Supplementary Order Paper amends Supplementary Order Paper No 259 amending the End of Life Choice Bill by proposing various key areas of expertise that must reside within the SCENZ Group.

It is important that the SCENZ Group, if it is to perform the proposed statutory function in a credible and meaningful manner, include in its membership those who have relevant qualifications and experience.

The areas of qualification and experience most relevant to assisted dying (i.e., euthanasia and assisted suicide) are medical ethics, disability issues, geriatric care, palliative care, and legal issues.