GEOFFREY WILLIAMS
THE final wishes of terminally-ill patients will be debated at a public forum next week.
Dying With Dignity NSW will host The Right To Choice At The End Of Life forum, with speakers to talk in favour of changing current laws.
The non-profit group aims to stimulate debate in NSW Parliament this year around voluntary euthanasia.
It claims growing support surrounding voluntary euthanasia is not reflected in NSW laws.
A 2012 survey, conducted by Newspoll on behalf of Dying with Dignity NSW, showed that more than 80 per cent of Australians supported choice for voluntary euthanasia with safeguards.
NSW Greens Member of the Legislative Council Cate Faehrmann also plans to move a private members' motion, to allow voluntary euthanasia, in NSW Parliament later this year.
Dying With Dignity NSW member Geoffrey Williams plans to attend next week's forum.
He said voluntary euthanasia was not a matter of life or death, but choice.
The Charlestown resident said he first became interested in voluntary euthanasia when his mother Alzheimer's Disease progressed to the point that she had to go into full-time care.
He said people should have the right to end their life quickly and painlessly with dignity and support, rather than it being drawn-out and unbearable.
■ The Right To Choice At The End of Life forum will be held at Cardiff RSL next Monday, February 11 at 7pm.