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THE PROPOSED DYING with Dignity Bill “falls short” in ensuring the protection of the right to life, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IRHEC) has warned.
In a written submission to the Oireachtas Justice Committee, which is considering the legislation, the group argues that the bill will need to be “substantively revised” from its current draft if it is to properly account for the wishes of all people at the end of their life.
The commission has also urged TDs to ensure that “robust and adequate” safeguards are in place to ensure that particular groups, including disabled people, people with life-limiting illnesses and older people, are not at risk.
The Dying with Dignity Bill, which would permit terminally ill people to avail of medical assistance to die in certain circumstances, was voted to committee stage in the Dáil last year.
The Oireachtas Justice Committee is currently considering submissions on the proposed legislation from individuals and groups.
In its submission, the IHREC tells TDs that any law which allows for assisted dying must be guided by a “human rights model” of disability and follow extensive consultation with at-risk groups.
The commission also calls for the legislation to expressly state that no person should qualify for medical assistance to die solely on the grounds of their disability or age.
It says the bill should be amended to include a maximum threshold in relation to how soon a person’s likelihood of dying is, for example 6 months, and that this should be qualified through an objective test such as “reasonable medical judgment”.
The IHREC further suggests that certain categories of people should be prevented from being a ‘witness’ to a person’s stated desire to die, such as relatives and those who are responsible for providing care to the person concerned.
And it says the proposed law should be changed to provide for the establishment of an independent oversight mechanism which could review and affirm a person’s stated declaration of their desire to end their own life.
Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Sinéad Gibney said that any debate about assisted dying must have regard for the complexity of issues being considered.
“Legislating for physician-assisted dying engages several rights, including; the right to life, respect for human dignity, personal autonomy and the protection of certain at risk groups, in particular disabled people, people with life-limiting illnesses and older people,” she said.
“These are fundamental human rights and equality issues and as such, the development of this proposed Bill must be scrutinised in light of relevant human rights and equality standards on these and related matters.”
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Another day, another transport strike
@ginger “Breakthrough…” This mean no striking. At least read the title, dude.
@ginger tomcat: But there’s no strikes??
No way. Actual good news?
The threat of a strike ballot should not have been necessary to make the Dublin Bus management honour their commitments.
Fair comment Dusty.
So glad the Union backed down on wanting shares in Bus Eireann for every staff member because they ‘built the company’. Common sense prevails.
The climb down in the article is clearly on the management side who have finally agreed to implement what they signed up to previously. We’ll done to the workers on forcing the management to honour their commitments. The time of the working class asking nicely is over. Militant action is the way forward.
Or in your case Dusty…. militant keyboard action
This must be playing hell with your heartburn Larry?
Alpha. Please note the article is about dublin bus.
There’s no such thing as shares in a semi state company Alfa, although The Minister for Transport is officially referred to as “The Shareholder” in the legal framework of semi state transport companies.
Pity unions why don’t you bring it down ?Justt like you did Ferenka. Didn’t think that would happen did you?. Always remember what Sir Michael Edwards said during the constant strikes in British Leyland organised by Red Robbo. ” GO back to work or I will start liquidating the company” They went back to work !!
You keep tugging your forelock to the “Sirs” there Joe. The rest of the working class will continue to fight to take what’s rightfully theirs.
They not going to shut either of the bus companies. Us tax payer will increase the subsidies and they can continue on squandering it to their hearts content.
The public transport subvention has been slashed to pay for the banker’s debts. And the taxpayer too will be paying the same banker’s debts for generations.
Well there’s a depressing thought. In both cases public money is waste and as you put it likely will be for generations come.
We get a public transport system in return for the subvention and the bill is in the millions. We get nothing for paying off the bondholders and the bill is in the billions annually.
@Dusty Mooney: Working class eh you poor man !!! Keep it up just don’t deny the truth !! If that so called class argument is all you can offer go and get your shoe shine box and conform
A very poor self serving public transport system.
So that argument means taxpayers pay twice. I suppose we could always print the money removing the need for taxpayers at all in wallyland.
No doubt some guff about the value of money, or the goods and services etc. None of which will explain, ever, how we pay for imports of life saving drugs, our cars etc except to say inflation won’t happen. Also with no example of this ever being implemented where inflation doesn’t happen.
Basically if we leave the euro we will be fine. Except when we had our own currency we weren’t. Go figure…
I never understand why management of these bus companies back themselves into a situation were a strikes takes place. All that happens is they loose revenue for a few days and then they end up surrendering to the unions and more or less giving them what they want anyway. But then of course there a you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours culture has developed over the years.
have your say