The recently released Australian movie, "Last Cab to
Darwin", will generate conversations and recall the Northern
Territory's Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995.
This Act came into effect on 1 July 1996 and was subsequently
overridden by the Commonwealth Parliament. Courts in Australia,
Canada, the UK and the USA have all made it clear that there is no
legal duty to continue medical treatment that is futile. These
courts have also upheld the right of competent adults to decide to
cease treatment that is keeping them alive.
Voluntary assisted suicide or euthanasia is qualitatively
different. Voluntary euthanasia is generally where a person
performs an act that intentionally ends the life of another person
at the request of the other person. Assisted suicide is where a
person dies after being provided by another person (often a health
professional) with the means or knowledge required to kill
themselves.
