Kings Cross theatre to debate euthanasia
Australia’s controversial euthanasia debate will be brought to the Stables Theatre in Kings Cross on August 15.
Following the production And No More Shall We Part, the theatre will play host to a forum of speakers discussing voluntary euthanasia legislation and its place in New South Wales.
Entitled The Good Death: Dignity, Ethics and the Law, the post-show forum will feature an address from Marshall Perron about the need for the legislation.
The former Northern Territory Chief Minister was behind the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995, Australia’s only law to ever legalise voluntary euthanasia. He supports the reintroduction of similar laws in New South Wales.
The forum will also feature 22-year-old actor and activist, Gideon Cordover, who has had personal experience with voluntary suicide and is pushing for change in policy.
Mr Cordover’s father took his own life two years ago in order to end his painful battle with motor neuron disease. Mr Cordover feels that the medical establishment and the law “turned its back” on his father and disagrees with the legal implications for those who assist in voluntary euthanasia.
“He actually had to kill himself early in order to spare his family from prosecution,” said Mr Cordover.
“That made me so angry because I would have done anything for those extra days or weeks with my dad. Because the law wasn’t in place to facilitate his decision, I lost those weeks.”
Mr Cordover wants to send a strong message to the audience.
“By passing this legislation we are not encouraging everyone to do it. It’s just about choice and if you are in a terminal situation with no chance of recovery you should be entitled to that autonomy.”
President of Dying With Dignity NSW, Dr Robert Marr, spoke about the community’s support regarding the issue.
“Public opinion polls, including the latest news poll, show that 80-85 per cent of Australians believe that dying patients should have the right to be able to legally request and receive medical assistance to end their life if their suffering becomes too great,” he said.
Chief of Staff from Australian Christian Lobby group, Lyle Shelton, will present the other side of the debate; speaking against the legislation.
“Despite being well intentioned, crossing a line that says doctors can actively take the life of a patient is a dangerous position that has proved impossible to build adequate safeguards against abuse.”
Last month, recognised euthanasia campaigner, Dr Philip Nitschke, applied to the Therapeutic Goods Administration to import the suicide drug, Nembutal, into Australia to end the lives of six terminally ill patients.
Tickets to the post-show forum, The Good Death: Dignity, Ethics and the Law can be bought from the Griffin box office for $15.
By Tara Blancato
