Show us your passport first

On whether assisted dying should be available for citizens, residents, or everyone.

At the WFRTDS conference today an Australian case was discussed that gives pause: a doctor told us about one of his first assisted dying patients years ago, an older man was dying of an advanced cancer. Quite severe, with lots of suffering despite palliative care.

He sought medical assistance in dying help, but was refused because he could not qualify for MAID because he could not prove citizenship.

He had lived in Australia for 40 or more years, had an Australian pension, and was eligible for government provided health care. He assumed he’d be eligible for medical assistance in dying (also called assisted dying, AD, in NZ.)

But under the law of that state, at that time, he could not legally access assisted dying.

So a week later, he took his own life. Alone, without family at his side.

In most states in Australia, thankfully the law now encompasses permanent residents as well as citizens.

In other countries, there is a hodgepodge of rules regarding eligibility, based on time in country (fo…