A controversial bill that would create a law which allows euthanasia under certain circumstances has been voted down in NSW Parliament.
A marathon debate in the upper house saw the bill defeated 20 votes to 19 last Thursday.
Guyra-based Liberal MLC Scot MacDonald was on the fence leading up to the debate, before announcing he could not support the bill during his speech on Thursday.
“I simply have too many doubts about safeguards, protection from coercion, implications for health workers, a pivot away from preserving life, the consequence of errors and a possible undermining of palliative care,” Mr MacDonald said.
“… The elderly and the seriously ill often feel themselves to be a burden.
“I feel voluntary assisted dying could be intentionally or unintentionally misused where there are vulnerable people.