Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 29 Nov 2017, 05:34 am Print
Melbourne, Nov 29 (JEN): After a gruelling debate which lasted more than 100 hours, including two whole-night sittings, Victoria has become the first state in Australia to legalise euthanasia or assisted dying, reports said.
However, the development comes with a set of rules.
The patient must be at least 18 years of age and must have less than six months to live.
A patient must make three requests to specially trained doctors in order to end their life.
A special board must review all cases.
Coercion of patients into ending their life will be a crime.
Patients with motor neurone disease (MND) will become eligible with a year to live.
Victoria is Australia's second most populous state.
Image: A scene from the 2004 Spanish film The Sea Inside based on the real-life story of Ramón Sampedro (played by Javier Bardem), who was left quadriplegic after a diving accident, and his 28-year campaign in support of euthanasia and the right to end his life.
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