It seems it’s not enough to have state laws that provide provide choice at the end of life for those with teminal illnesses.
The latest episode involves the original naysayers continuing their campaign of denial that people have rights at law.
In recent news, Dying with Dignity in a message from Penny Hackett, President of DwD-NSW informs us that:
Across Australia, our health and aged care is increasingly controlled by Catholic operators which won’t provide voluntary assisted dying (VAD) or other legal healthcare which conflicts with their religious ideology.
Four private hospitals in NSW have just been acquired by Calvary Healthcare. There has been virtually no publicity or consultation with surrounding communities.
This undoubtedly means reduced access to VAD for dying people.
Patients at Newcastle Private Hospital were regularly accessing VAD. Those patients will now be forced to transfer elsewhere for each of the 7+ steps of the VAD process.
The NSW Government must hear from the community. But there’s not much time with feedback required by November 3, 2026.
There is a way to “have your say” but the Govt sure has made it difficult – it needs separate feedback for each hospital.
Please let the government know that limiting access to VAD is a denial of one of our basic rights. It only takes a few minutes, to have your say:
Here are the links:
Here is a suggested text. Copy and paste or use your own words.
I am opposed to Calvary being granted hospital licences without proper consideration of the impact on patients.
Calvary’s religious policies restrict access to voluntary assisted dying, abortion and other lawful healthcare.
This is not just a change of hospital ownership. It may change the medical care available to patients and entire communities.
The Government must examine the impact of Calvary taking over multiple hospitals and give the public a genuine opportunity to comment.
Every licence transfer must include safeguards to prevent patients losing access to lawful treatment. VAD should be available on-site in hospitals caring for terminally ill patients.
Patient choice and medical needs must take priority over the religious views of hospital operators.
It’s clear that we who believe in choice can’t be asleep at the wheel. In order to preserve the hard won gains we have to remain on the alert for those who would block access to freedom of choice at the end of life.
