We support the finding of the Tasmanian Parliament’s 1998 inquiry into Euthanasia that “the legalisation of voluntary euthanasia would pose a serious threat to the more vulnerable members of society and that the obligation of the state to protect all its members equally outweighs the individual’s freedom to choose voluntary euthanasia.”
- We believe that it is impossible to develop a perfect piece of legislation that legalises euthanasia and/or assisted suicide that would adequately protect the lives of vulnerable people from a wrongful death.
- We believe that wrongful death can occur from: an incorrect or inadequate diagnosis/prognosis/understanding of treatment options (misinformed consent), undetected diminished capacity (due to cognitive impairment or mental health issues), or lack of consent (due to elder abuse from health professionals/family/friends or internalised ageism).
- We believe that legalising euthanasia or assisted suicide will undermine the confidence that patients have in the Tasmanian health system and increase the level of fear that some people experience in accessing health services.

US


NOW


YOU!
What We Stand For
Live & Die Well believes that life at every stage is worth living. When people live well in terms of their physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual health, they set themselves to die well. We are a grassroots initiative which advocates for:
We believe that it is better to focus on pain alleviation rather than patient elimination. Palliative care, in all its dimensions, provides an approach to alleviate the physical, mental and existential pain that people suffer from advanced illnesses.
- Palliative care needs more Federal and State Government funding to help localise its provision and reduce the cost. The legalisation of euthanasia and assisted suicide will significantly disrupt Tasmania’s palliative care ecosystem and create funding pressures that will detract rather than promote the expansion of this ecosystems at a time of demographic need.
- We believe that legalising euthanasia or assisted suicide will undermine the confidence that patients have in the Tasmanian health system and increase the level of fear that some people experience in accessing health services.
We advocate for changes to the Tasmanian Criminal Code that clarifies the legal status of palliative care to encourage medical practitioners to not be overcautious in the dosage levels of opioids for patients.
- We urge the Government that they need to move to codify in legislation the common law position on end-of-life decision making and provide a basis for advance care planning.
- We believe that expanding the awareness and use of Advance Care Directives will provide people and their families with improved peace of mind as they need to approach their end of their life.
Top 6 Reasons for Concern
How YOU can Help
1. Write a letter/email to a Member of Parliament
MP’s need to know that lots of us are worried. You could even host a letter writing party.
Follow the steps to write an impactful letter via our LETTER WRITING GUIDE HERE
2. Keep updated
by Subscribing to Newsletter and Liking our Facebook page
3. Attend or Host a screening of the Fatal Flaws documentary
Follow the link to host or attend an event HERE
4. Share your story
Each of us have a personal reason why we stand against the Gaffney bill and we can help the media and community and MPs hear that. Please use the form on the left of our site’s footer or give us a call!
5. Volunteer
There are lots of things to do to make sure we are heard – please sign up using this form to get involved!
Have Any Questions?
Real Stories
UTAS Medical Student
Zac Golus - New Norfolk
Dr Rachel Bradley
Anne Ovari, Pelverata
a Few Fundamentals
A Bill that Kills?
1. It will apply to patients who don’t have a terminal illness and could live for many years.
2. It will impact a bigger percentage of vulnerable Tasmanian than on the mainland.
3. It has inadequate safeguards to protect the vulnerable from wrongful deaths.
Campaign Slogans
Pain alleviation not patient elimination: Good medicine should be focused on easing a patient’s suffering not eliminating their patient with a poison pill.
Jobs & Health not suicide by stealth: In the context of a pandemic, Parliament should focus on protecting jobs and improving health rather than sneaking in an Assisted Suicide Bill when everyone is distracted.
FATAL FLAWS FILM CLIP
Who is behind our campaign?
Research Supporting our Position
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eChtibVbKsU
MARGREET: “SHE WAS EUTHANIZED WITHOUT CONSENT. THEY DECIDED”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lphSJ-P8h0c
ASSISTED DYING: PUSH FOR REMOVAL OF SAFEGUARDS ALARMING
Associate Professor Odette Spruijt
https://insightplus.mja.com.au/2020/30/assisted-dying-push-for-removal-of-safeguards-alarming/