4Principles

4 Principles

4 Principles

(1) A person exercising a power or performing a function under this Act must have regard to the following principles—

(a) every human life has equal value,

(b) a person’s autonomy, including autonomy in relation to end of life choices, should be respected,

(c) a person has the right to be supported in making informed decisions about the person’s medical treatment and should be given, in a way the person understands, information about medical treatment options, including comfort and palliative care and treatment,

(d) a person approaching the end of life should be provided with high quality care and treatment, including palliative care and treatment, to minimise the person’s suffering and maximise the person’s quality of life,

(e) a therapeutic relationship between a person and the person’s health practitioner should, wherever possible, be supported and maintained,

(f) a person should be encouraged to openly discuss death and dying, and the person’s preferences and values regarding the person’s care, treatment and end of life should be encouraged and promoted,

(g) a person should be supported in conversations with the person’s health practitioners, family, carers and community about care and treatment preferences,

(h) a person is entitled to genuine choices about the person’s care, treatment and end of life, irrespective of where the person lives in New South Wales and having regard to the person’s culture and language,

(i) a person who is a regional resident is entitled to the same level of access to voluntary assisted dying and high quality care and treatment, including palliative care and treatment, as a person who lives in a metropolitan region,

(j) there is a need to protect persons who may be subject to pressure or duress,

Note—

See the definition of pressure or duress in the Dictionary in Schedule 1.

(k) all persons, including health practitioners, have the right to be shown respect for their culture, religion, beliefs, values and personal characteristics.

(2) In subsection (1), the reference to a person exercising a function under this Act includes the Supreme Court exercising its jurisdiction in relation to a decision made under this Act.