The proposed voluntary assisted dying laws that have Tom Elliott concerned

The ACT Government is considering legalising voluntary assisted dying, and it could be available to people under 18.

During community consultation, some submissions suggested lowering the age at which a person can access assisted dying to as young as 14.

Tom Elliott says if there’s a push to do so “the ACT Government has to push back against it”.

Press PLAY below to hear Tom Elliott’s view on the assisted dying submission

“We are going through a very strange stage in society where we think that teenagers can make adult decisions,” he said. “At that age, you don’t know what’s what … you’re a mess of hormones, of different emotions, you’re starting to look like an adult but you certainly don’t think like an adult.”

But professor of end-of-life law and regulation at the Australian Centre for Health Law Research, Ben White, says it’s only a submission at this stage.

“In the second half of the year there will be a bill released and again that will be the subject of discussion and debate,” he told Tom Elliott.

Press PLAY below to hear Professor White’s view