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23-year-old bravely dies on her own terms

<p> A terminally ill young woman from Adelaide has ended her life under the state’s voluntary assisted dying laws.</p> <p>In a funeral notice published in the<em> Adelaide Advertiser</em>, the family of Lily Thai said she died at the Flinders Medical Centre on June 21.</p> <p>“Much loved daughter of Kate and Le. Beloved granddaughter, niece and cousin. Treasured friend to many,” the family wrote.</p> <p>The family have shared that her funeral will be held at Centennial Park Cemetery on June 29.</p> <p>She made the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/23-year-old-reveals-why-she-s-chosen-to-end-her-life" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heartbreaking decision</a> to take her own life after countless surgeries failed to improve her illness.</p> <p>Thai suffered from Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) – a genetic condition that left her completely bedridden and in constant pain.</p> <p>Her powerful story touched thousands nationwide before she passed away.</p> <p>Thai had long wished to take her own life with dignity after a battle with such a debilitating condition.</p> <p>“I decided that pain was so severe it wasn’t worth it, and I just wanted to take it into my own hands,” Thai told the Adelaide Advertiser.</p> <p>After her painful health battle, she spent her last days at the Flinders Medical Centre, where she said she mainly slept while in “excruciating pain”</p> <p>Thai had recently signed the paperwork to use South Australia’s voluntary assisted dying laws, which came into effect in January 2023, to end her life after being administered an IV medication.</p> <p><em>Image credit: The Advertiser / TikTok</em></p>

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23-year-old reveals why she's chosen to end her life

<p>23-year-old Lily Thai has made the crippling decision to end her life.</p> <p>The Adelaide native, who suffers from Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), will use recently passed voluntary assisted dying laws after signing the final paperwork a week prior.</p> <p>In January 2023, South Australia legalised assisted dying with the government funnelling in $18 million over the next five years to support safe access to the service.</p> <p>“I realised that I can’t have any more anaesthesia, so I (couldn’t) have any more feeding tube changes (or) surgeries,” Thai told <em>The Advertiser</em>.</p> <p>EDS is a debilitating genetic condition which has left the 23-year-old completely bedridden and in constant pain.</p> <p>It affects her joints, skin and walls of the blood vessels so severely she is reliant on her father as a caregiver to do everything for her, “even the most intimate things”.</p> <p>Doctors will administer an IV medication that will terminate the young woman’s life within 10 seconds.</p> <p>“I’ll no longer have any pain, I will no longer suffer with any of these issues, and I’ll finally be free of all the suffering that I have endured for so many years.”</p> <p>Thai had initially thought her health deterioration was caused by a spinal fluid leak, but after undergoing treatment to fix it, her condition did not improve and doctors couldn’t give her a definitive diagnosis.</p> <p>As a desperate last measure, she travelled to Sydney to meet a surgeon who “specialised in spinal issues (for) patients with EDS” when she was 21.</p> <p>She was then confined to a halo brace and required a nasal feeding tube as she "couldn’t keep anything down,” and weighed just 40kg.</p> <p>In May 2021, Thai had spinal fusion surgery and just a week later was fitted with a gastro Jejenul feeding tube to vent out stomach acid and secretion.</p> <p>Through her rehab period, hospitals were under strict Covid-19 protocols, so Thai suffered alone without any visitors.</p> <p>“I couldn’t stand not seeing my dad, so I got discharged early,” she said.</p> <p>She was later diagnosed with auto-immune autonomic ganglionopathy — a rare condition where the body’s immune system attacks the nervous system.</p> <p>“The neurologist said that I was in multi-organ failure, but it wasn’t until I had a severe decline after one of my surgeries, (and) when I saw my rehab doctor they found a large lesion of the left side of my brain,” she said.</p> <p>“He suspected I had a type of motor neurone disease.”</p> <p>Thai has spent the past two years at Flinders Medical Centre’s Laurel Hospice, where she shared that most of her days are filled with sleep to avoid being in “excruciating pain”.</p> <p>Healthcare staff there granted one of her final wishes, which was to visit a beach, and so they took Thai in the back of an ambulance to the coastline. </p> <p>An image (at top) shows Lily resting on a bed, enjoying her Maccas fries and looking out at the golden sand and blue water in front of her.</p> <p>While at the hospice, Thai also formed a strong bond with another young woman, Annaliese Holland, who was also suffering a terminal illness at the hospice.</p> <p>The pair say young people with a terminal illness often mourn the “life (they) never got to have.”</p> <p>“For elderly or older people, (they) have memories to look back on to laugh about and cry about,” Holland said. “But for a young person in palliative hospice, you haven’t formed many of them.”</p> <p>“You never do the normal things like going to your high school graduation,” Thai said.</p> <p>“What makes me sad is that … you just want to push on, but at the same time it’s really hard because you know you won’t have babies or any of that,” Holland said.</p> <p>Holland has vowed to do everything in her power to make Thai’s last days in hospice more bearable.</p> <p>“All I can do is brush her (Lily’s) hair or moisturise her legs. I just want her to know that I’m there and people care,” a tearful Holland said.</p> <p>Thai has been able to plan parts of her own funeral and has been busy saying goodbye to family and friends.</p> <p>As part of her legacy, she’s inviting donations for palliative research to The Hospital Research Foundation on her memorial card to be given to funeral attendees.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Facebook</em></p>

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People thinking of voluntary assisted dying may be able to donate their organs. We need to start talking about this

<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/robert-ray-1441988">Robert Ray</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a></em></p> <p>The number of people needing an organ transplant vastly outweighs the number of organs available.</p> <p><a href="https://www.donatelife.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-02/OTA%202022%20Donation%20and%20Transplantation%20Activity%20Report.pdf">In 2022</a> there were about 1,800 Australians waiting for an organ but only about 1,200 people received an organ transplant.</p> <p>But in <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/imj.16085">a recent paper</a>, I outline one unexplored option for increasing the number of potential organ donors in Australia – transplanting organs from people undergoing voluntary assisted dying. This would involve transplanting organs only after someone had died.</p> <p>It’s estimated <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2616383">about 10%</a> of people eligible for voluntary assisted dying are likely to be medically suitable to donate their organs. Based on <a href="https://www.safercare.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-09/Voluntary%20Assisted%20Dying%20Review%20Board%20Report%20of%20Operations%20July%202021-June%2022_FINAL.pdf">Victorian figures</a> alone, this could lead to about an extra 40 potential organ donors each year.</p> <p>This type of organ donation has taken place <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9297969/">for more than 20 years</a> in Europe, and more recently in Canada.</p> <p>Organs transplanted from donors undergoing voluntary assisted dying <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2769118">have</a> <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ajt.16267">similar</a> <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ajt.16971">success rates</a> to more traditional donations.</p> <p>Yet, this is a discussion we’ve yet to have in Australia. Here are some of the ethical and practical issues we need to start talking about.</p> <h2>Is this ethical? It’s tricky</h2> <p>The main ethical challenge is ensuring a person isn’t motivated to end their life prematurely so they can donate their organs.</p> <p><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ajt.13746">Internationally</a>, <a href="https://jme.bmj.com/content/42/8/486.short">this challenge</a> is mainly addressed by having <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1600613523000291">independent assessments</a> by multiple doctors. This is to ensure the motivation is genuine and honest, much like assessing someone before voluntary assisted dying.</p> <p>Similarly, it is important the doctor of someone undergoing voluntary assisted dying isn’t persuading them to donate an organ. This means any doctor overseeing voluntary assisted dying may be limited in how much they can discuss organ donation with their patient.</p> <p>Again, this <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ajt.13746">has been managed internationally</a> by having separate, independent doctors overseeing organ donation and voluntary assisted dying, <a href="https://www.cmaj.ca/content/190/44/E1305.short">without one influencing</a> the other.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528192/original/file-20230525-27-sjwdaa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528192/original/file-20230525-27-sjwdaa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528192/original/file-20230525-27-sjwdaa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=437&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528192/original/file-20230525-27-sjwdaa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=437&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528192/original/file-20230525-27-sjwdaa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=437&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528192/original/file-20230525-27-sjwdaa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=549&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528192/original/file-20230525-27-sjwdaa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=549&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528192/original/file-20230525-27-sjwdaa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=549&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="Elderly woman in bed hand on covers" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">Is this what people really want, with so little time left?</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/senior-woman-laying-on-bed-hospital-1054837748">Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure> <p>Organ donation may also affect the way voluntary assisted dying is conducted, which <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1600613523000291">may impact</a> participants’ very limited quality of life.</p> <p>That’s because determining if someone is eligible to donate an organ involves a number of <a href="https://jme.bmj.com/content/43/9/601.short">investigations</a>. These may include blood tests, radiology (imaging) and numerous clinical encounters to exclude diseases such as cancer, which would prevent someone donating their organs. These investigations may be exhausting but necessary.</p> <p>This burden must be weighed against the participant’s wishes and motivation to donate their organs. So people must also be informed of the impact organ donation will have on their limited life left.</p> <p>The choices of people considering this option must be respected and they must be given multiple opportunities to review their decision, without undue influence or bias.</p> <h2>Practical issues: coordination, location, regulation</h2> <p>Practically, combining organ donation and voluntary assisted dying is <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ajt.13746">challenging</a>. This includes the difficulty organising and coordinating specialists in organ donation, voluntary assisted dying and transplantation.</p> <p>This is why, internationally, organ donation of this nature mostly occurs in large hospitals, where it’s easier to coordinate.</p> <p>So if people want to donate an organ this way, they may spend their last moments in an unfamiliar environment.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528195/original/file-20230525-15-irsqg9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528195/original/file-20230525-15-irsqg9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528195/original/file-20230525-15-irsqg9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528195/original/file-20230525-15-irsqg9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528195/original/file-20230525-15-irsqg9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528195/original/file-20230525-15-irsqg9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528195/original/file-20230525-15-irsqg9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528195/original/file-20230525-15-irsqg9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="Patient being wheeled on stretcher through hospital corridors" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">People may have to be moved to a large hospital with the facilities and staff on hand.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/surgeon-assistant-team-transport-move-stretcher-2062330820">Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure> <p>Efforts have been made <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2776765">internationally</a> to prioritise these valuable last moments by giving people the choice of where voluntary assisted dying occurs (<a href="https://www.cmaj.ca/content/190/44/E1305.short">such as their home</a>). But this currently only occurs in a minority of cases and increases the complexity of organ donation.</p> <p>Regulating the process is also essential to developing a safe, trustworthy and effective program. Ideally a centralised organisation such as Australia’s national <a href="https://www.donatelife.gov.au">Organ and Tissue Authority</a> would organise, undertake and regulate this.</p> <p>However, this may be challenging given voluntary assisted dying practices are specific to each state.</p> <h2>The challenges ahead</h2> <p>If someone considering voluntary assisted dying wants to donate their organs and is deemed eligible, there is currently <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/imj.16085">no legal barrier in Australia</a> to stop them.</p> <p>What might prevent them is how their doctor responds, and whether there are the services and organisations willing to fulfil this request ethically and practically.</p> <p>The next step in considering this form of organ donation is to discuss the prospect publicly.</p> <p>Every extra donated organ is potentially lifesaving. So we should make every effort to consider potential safe and ethical ways to increase donation and transplantation rates.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/206298/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/robert-ray-1441988">Robert Ray</a>, Affiliate Associate Lecturer, School of Medicine, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/people-thinking-of-voluntary-assisted-dying-may-be-able-to-donate-their-organs-we-need-to-start-talking-about-this-206298">original article</a>.</em></p>

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Long Covid sufferer applies for voluntary euthanasia

<p>After suffering with long Covid for over two years, a Canadian woman believes she has been left with no choice but to apply for voluntary euthanasia. </p> <p>Tracey Thompson, a Toronto resident in her 50s, told <a href="https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-woman-enduring-effects-of-long-covid-begins-process-for-medically-assisted-death-1.5976944" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline">CTV News</a> she had begun the process of applying for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), due to extreme fatigue and a lack of financial support.</p> <p>Tracey used to work long hours as a chef, but has been unable to work for the last 26 months, with no foreseeable end to her forced unemployment.</p> <p>“(MAiD) is exclusively a financial consideration,” she said.</p> <p>“My choices are basically to die slowly and painfully, or quickly. Those are the options that are left.”</p> <p>As well as a lack of financial support, Tracey has experienced long Covid symptoms such as severe fatigue, blurred vision, difficulty digesting food, difficulty breathing, an altered sense of taste and smell, and scars on her heart from swelling due to myocarditis.</p> <p>While health experts say long Covid is difficult to diagnosis, it is estimated that five percent of those who contract the virus will go on to have long term symptoms. </p> <p>Tracey also told CTV that she now struggles to get up and look after herself, which is very different to her previous fast paced life in a physically demanding job. </p> <p>“From being able-bodied and employed to basically bed-bound,” she said.</p> <p>“I can’t get up on average for 20-plus hours. I have very little capacity to expend the energy physically, mentally and emotionally, so I try to stay home all the time.”</p> <p>But Thompson stressed she still enjoys life and doesn’t want to die, but doesn’t think she could survive without an income.</p> <p>“I still enjoy life. Birds chirping, small things that make up a day are still pleasant to me, they’re still enjoyable. I still enjoy my friends. There’s a lot to enjoy in life, even if it’s small,” she said.</p> <p>“But I don’t relish the idea of suffering for months to come to the same conclusion."</p> <p>“When support is not coming, things aren’t going to change. It seems irrational to put myself through that just to die in the end.”</p> <p>While Tracey is unsure if she would be eligible for the Ontario Disability Support Program, she believes the maximum monthly payment would only just cover her rent, leading her to apply for the drastic action of voluntary euthanasia. </p> <p>In Canada, you do not need to have a terminal illness to be eligible for MAiD, but rather have an illness that “cannot be relieved under conditions that you consider acceptable”.</p> <p>Thompson said she was confident she would get approval.</p> <p>“As best I know, I would meet the criteria,” she said.</p> <p>"I'm very ill. There is no treatment. There is no cure."</p> <p><em>Image credits: CTV</em></p>

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Aussie with terminal cancer uses time left to make her mark

<p dir="ltr">An Australian researcher who has been diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer is busy making plans for when she’s gone - including a contribution she hopes will help advance research in animal studies.</p> <p dir="ltr">Siobhan O’Sullivan was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer in July 2020, finding out within a year that the cancer had spread and that her illness was terminal.</p> <p dir="ltr">“In the week prior to my diagnosis, I was starting to say to people, ‘I’m not feeling right - I think it’s stress because Dad’s going to die soon’,” she told <em><a href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/a-silent-killer-has-left-her-terminally-ill-now-this-aussie-woman-has-a-simple-message-c-6854866" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The week before dad died, I went to the doctor and said, ‘Something’s not right’.”</p> <p dir="ltr">During her treatments Siobhan suffered multiple strokes - an unexpected side effect - but even extensive treatment couldn’t stop the cancer from spreading.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That was a huge blow for me because a lot of women at that point do get some remission time,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m now at 19 months, which means I’m on borrowed time.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Though she’s living with death, Siobhan has maintained her humour and optimism, as well as her advocacy for ovarian cancer and the legalisation of voluntary assisted dying.</p> <p dir="ltr">She also began making plans, divesting her property and funds to her niece, nephew, godson and his sister, and ensuring her podcast is in good hands once she’s gone.</p> <p dir="ltr">Siobhan has also bequeathed $50,000 to the Australisian Animal Studies Association (AASA), which she is a founder of, and is helpling to establish two awards for future researchers.</p> <p dir="ltr">She is an associate professor of politics at Sydney’s University of New South Wales and was extremely involved in research around animal studies and her other passion, the alleviation of social issues related to poverty.</p> <p dir="ltr">Thanks to her donation, the AASA is offering two new prizes: one for early-career researchers, and the other for animal studies scholars, artists or advocates who have worked to promote their insights and findings with their peers and the public.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This is an exciting way to help the field of animal studies,” she said in a <a href="https://www.inside.unsw.edu.au/awards/new-awards-scheme-advances-the-emerging-sub-discipline-animal-studies#:~:text=As%20a%20founder%20of%20the,be%20established%20in%20coming%20years." target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>. “My own research … suggests that many animal studies scholars feel isolated and their research is not acknowledged by their own institutions. </p> <p dir="ltr">“These awards are a way of strengthening the animal studies community and giving scholars a sense of achievement and recognition.”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-797bc252-7fff-26df-4e48-a4265576659f"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">As she nears the end of her life, Siobhan has said she would feel immensely comforted by the thought that she could legally end her life before her cancer brings her even more suffering.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">I was so honoured to speak on behalf of people facing horrible deaths in NSW. Today I'll be watching <a href="https://twitter.com/nsw_upperhouse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nsw_upperhouse</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/NSWParlLA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NSWParlLA</a> closely. I hope our political leaders use their power to ease the load of the terminally ill &amp; their friends &amp; family. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AssistedDying?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AssistedDying</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VAD?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VAD</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nswpol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nswpol</a> <a href="https://t.co/hecIbBdBAl">pic.twitter.com/hecIbBdBAl</a></p> <p>— Siobhan O'Sullivan 🥦😸♋ (@so_s) <a href="https://twitter.com/so_s/status/1527089433501405184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“My view is that there is no benefit that’s going to come to me, or my family, or this world, for me to suffer the last couple of weeks of a death by ovarian cancer,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">But the very recent <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/emotional-scenes-as-nsw-passes-law-on-voluntary-assisted-dying" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passing of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill</a> in NSW Parliament might still come too late for Siobhan, since it could take up to 18 months for the law to come into effect.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite it not necessarily being an option she could take up, Siobhan says her advocacy will help others in the future.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This is for the other people, for the next people - the people in one, two, three years time,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-62a0997d-7fff-4443-1f85-8266d60241af"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Siobhan O’Sullivan (Facebook)</em></p>

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Emotional scenes as NSW passes law on Voluntary Assisted Dying

<p dir="ltr">The NSW parliament has legalised voluntary assisted dying (VAD), with Thursday's historic vote meaning terminally ill people can now choose the timing of their death.</p> <p dir="ltr">NSW joins the rest of Australia’s states in making VAD legal with a final vote of 23 MPs in favour and 15 opposing.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-57b1d52d-7fff-87bc-6fab-77fde5fd183a">Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich, who introduced the bill to parliament late last year, told members that the “entire diversity” of parliament were involved in passing the bill, with 28 co-sponsors from all parties - the highest number in Australian parliamentary history per <em><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/voluntary-assisted-dying-legalised-in-nsw-20220519-p5amo0.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sydney Mkorning Herald</a></em>.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">"We are celebrating this historic day"<br />"Compassion has won"<br />says Independent MP <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexGreenwich?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlexGreenwich</a>, flanked by the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill's co-sponsors and advocates.<br />It's been 20 years since the first attempt to pass a law like this in NSW. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nswpol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nswpol</a> <a href="https://t.co/8wNpjSEZP3">pic.twitter.com/8wNpjSEZP3</a></p> <p>— Sarah Navin (@SarahNavin) <a href="https://twitter.com/SarahNavin/status/1527131431163797505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“For those wondering what happened with the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill last night; the bill was debated till midnight and almost all amendments were dealt with,” Mr Greenwich explained on social media at 6am on Thursday morning.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There is one more amendment this morning to vote on and then a final vote in both the Upper and Lower House.”</p> <p dir="ltr">MPs debated nearly 100 amendments on Wednesday, with the sitting ending at midnight.</p> <p dir="ltr">The majority of amendments, including the push to allow aged care and residential homes to block VAD from occurring in their facilities, were voted down during the debate according to the <em><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-19/voluntary-assisted-dying-laws-pass/101079940" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">At midday, it was announced that the bill had passed the upper house.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-e5a4c3c0-7fff-a6a1-f7fe-4002e71c7631"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">The lower house then approved the bill approximately an hour later.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Proud to be sitting in the NSW parliament to watch the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill finally pass into law. This will make such a difference to the lives of so many, allowing people to choose to live the end of their lives as well as possible and to die with dignity. ✨❤️</p> <p>— Abigail Boyd (@AbigailBoydMLC) <a href="https://twitter.com/AbigailBoydMLC/status/1527120671498588161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Finance Minister Damien Tudehope, an opponent of the bill, told the upper house that it was a “dark day” for the state.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was a sad day because it was an opportunity for NSW to say ‘we can be better than this’,” Mr Tudehope said.</p> <p dir="ltr">He added that it would be judged by history as a “dreadful mistake”.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7061fe4b-7fff-c2d4-1a70-0c7be574e249"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">However, advocate groups such as Go Gentle Australia and Dying with Dignity, as well as individual supporters of VAD, have welcomed the decision.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Voluntary assisted dying set to become law in NSW. Congratulations and thank you to all the advocates, especially those who fought for their right to die with dignity, and died waiting and the 28 MPs who co-signed the Bill, tabled by my MP, <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexGreenwich?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlexGreenwich</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/voluntaryassisteddying?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#voluntaryassisteddying</a></p> <p>— Kimberley Ramplin (@Kimbo_Ramplin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kimbo_Ramplin/status/1527130066349481985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“VAD is now legal in NSW, the culmination of 50 years of advocacy. Congratulations to all involved,” Go Gentle Australia tweeted.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Congratulations to everyone involved in this campaign!” Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was part of the Working Group on Assisted Dying in NSW Parliament, which introduced the first bill. I’m proud to have played a role so that people can die with dignity.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Genuinely stoked,” Scott Phillips, the director of City Recital Hall, said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I have no idea if my old man would have taken the option, in his final days as he battled cancer.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-33a92312-7fff-da90-5db0-3ce7e371afd6"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“But I am so pleased that the choice will be available to others in NSW as a result of this bill.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">At long last. Choice &amp; dignity for terminally ill patients in NSW. Congrats to all who fought so courageously for this change. Now legalised in every State, the Federal Government need to stop blocking the NT &amp; ACT from debating this reform. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ausvotes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ausvotes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/auspol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#auspol</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nswpol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nswpol</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/vad?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#vad</a> <a href="https://t.co/UAwfar1O4X">https://t.co/UAwfar1O4X</a></p> <p>— JillHennessyMP (@JillHennessyMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/JillHennessyMP/status/1527130639816093696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">According to <em><a href="https://twitter.com/10NewsFirstSyd/status/1527133466181005312" target="_blank" rel="noopener">10 News First Sydney</a></em>, the bill allows for people to choose to end their life if they have suffering that can’t be relieved and are likely to die of a disease within six months, or within a year in the case of neurodegenerative disease. </p> <p dir="ltr">The news comes just days after Sara Wright, a nurse who has long advocated for VAD to be legalised, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/terminally-ill-nurse-caught-in-desperate-waiting-game" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spoke out</a> about waiting for the decision to be made while being “virtually paralysed” as a result of motor neuron disease - estimating she has months left to live.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t think that I will live for more than another six to eight months, as my breathing capacity is reducing very fast and I do not wish to have a tracheostomy (an operation where a breathing hole is cut into the front of the neck and windpipe),” she told 7News.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I know that all my family, my parents, my brothers, my ex-husband are all in support of voluntary assisted dying and helping me relieve my suffering.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But none of us want to break the law or risk anyone being imprisoned if they helped me.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4f1cf650-7fff-f54a-3901-698f66650fb4"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @DWDnsw (Twitter)</em></p>

Caring

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Terminally ill nurse caught in desperate waiting game

<p dir="ltr">A nurse who has months to live as a result of her diagnosis of motor neuron disease (MND) is “virtually paralysed” and waiting for the NSW government to decide how she will die.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sara Wright had been a nurse for 33 years before she was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) - a subtype of MND - two years ago, and is now dependent on a carer 24 hours a day.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The disease started as a weakness in my right foot, travelled up my right leg, then my left foot and leg,” the 54-year-old told <em><a href="https://7news.com.au/news/public-health/virtually-paralysed-nurse-waits-for-nsw-parliament-to-decide-how-she-will-die-c-6699939">7NEWS.com.au</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Then it travelled up my torso affecting my upper body, firstly my abdominal muscles, and now it affects both of my arms and hands, my lungs and my swallowing and speaking muscles.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Wright, who shared her story via dictation since speaking is difficult and painful, is waiting to see whether voluntary assisted dying laws (VAD) will be passed in the NSW Upper House next week.</p> <p dir="ltr">If they don’t pass, she says she will likely “have to deal with suffocating or choking to death”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s a terminal illness and the average life expectancy is three to five years,” she explained.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Given I have already been living with the disease for three years, and the progression has been faster than I ever could have expected, I don’t know how long I will live.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t think that I will live for more than another six to eight months, as my breathing capacity is reducing very fast and I do not wish to have a tracheostomy (an operation where a breathing hole is cut into the front of the neck and windpipe).”</p> <p dir="ltr">ALS/MND is more common among adults aged between 40 and 70 years, with 384 people diagnosed each day according to the <a href="https://www.als-mnd.org/what-is-alsmnd/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Wright’s career as a nurse made her all too aware of the “limitations of palliative care in the final stages of terminal illness”, so she initially planned to book into Dignitas, a non-profit organisation in Switzerland that offers a range of end-of-life services.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, the COVID-19 pandemic derailed her plan with the closure of international borders.</p> <p dir="ltr">She then considered moving interstate, where VAD is legal, but she worried about uprooting her 15-year-old daughter, Ester, from her home and friends, especially since most of their family is UK-based.</p> <p dir="ltr">“(Ester) is now 15 and she needs to have her community around her for support when I die,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Obviously this is an incredibly difficult conversation to have with your own child.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We have not specifically spoken about what could happen to me if the laws aren’t passed … but I have tried to assure her that family in the UK will fly out to be with her as soon as they can if I die unexpectedly.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Wright’s fate is tied to the voluntary assisted dying bill, which passed through the NSW Parliament’s lower house last year and is legal or will soon be legal in <a href="https://end-of-life.qut.edu.au/assisteddying" target="_blank" rel="noopener">every other state</a> except NSW.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I know that all my family, my parents, my brothers, my ex-husband are all in support of voluntary assisted dying and helping me relieve my suffering,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But none of us want to break the law or risk anyone being imprisoned if they helped me.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Since the bill entered the upper house last March, it has been debated passionately and passed through a second reading stage last week.</p> <p dir="ltr">It has even divided the state’s core leadership, with Premier Dominic Perrottet opposing the bill in favour of improving palliative care and Health Minister Brad Hazzard supporting it - despite opposing euthanisia for 29 years.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Wright, a strong supporter of VAD laws, has been brought close to the death of others during her nursing career and said she was “pretty certain” that if members debating the bill had seen people die uncomfortable, drawn-out deaths like she had, they would support the bill.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I have seen far too many people, elderly people, in the middle of the night in a ward without anyone there to hold their hand because nobody knew that was going to be their time to die,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I think that most people don’t think enough about death because we are all frightened of it.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And this could be the reason that some people are refusing to consider VAD laws, because it’s a topic that is deeply uncomfortable and taboo.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If we as a society were more mindfully aware and thoughtful about death, as it is the only certain outcome of life, then perhaps people would develop more compassion.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Though the laws could still be passed at some point if it fails to pass in next week’s final vote, Ms Wright said it would affect her whole family if it was too late for her to take advantage of it.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This will not only cause suffering to me but also to all of my family,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I wonder how many people have really stopped to think about what they would like, if they were in a position where they were going to die of (an) unpleasant and drawn-out death.”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-efb8451b-7fff-fb48-8f9b-0af951ee000d"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: 7News</em></p>

Caring

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225kg "Hank the Tank" bear ransacks wealthy neighbourhood

<p>Residents of a wealthy California neighbourhood have been terrorised by a 225kg black bear, nicknamed Hank the Tank by authorities. </p> <p>According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) , the one bear has been linked to "property damage at 38 different properties" in the affluent Tahoe Keys neighbourhood. </p> <p>The trouble-making bear has been the source of more than 150 calls between law enforcement and wildlife personnel in recent months. </p> <p>Peter Tira, a spokesperson for the CDFW said Hank has been spotted more and more as he has developed a taste for pizza, and has yet to be deterred by  efforts from local police to scare it off with paintballs and sirens.</p> <p>“It’s easier to find leftover pizza than to go in the forest,” Tira said </p> <p>“This is a bear that has lost all fear of people,” he added. “It’s a potentially dangerous situation.”</p> <p>Due to the heightened number of sightings and complaints about Hank, the CDFW has been setting up traps to catch the beast, but to no avail.</p> <p>“The trapping activity is a measure of last resort to capture and euthanise a specific and what we call a severely habituated or human-food conditioned black bear,” Tira said. </p> <p>Despite the potential danger, the bear hunt has sparked an outcry from local residents, who tried to sabotage them by trying to scare away the bear, playing loud music, and even spray-painting “Bear Killer” on the government’s trap.</p> <p>A bear activist group called the BEAR League has been coordinating with the CDFW for Hank the Tank to be relocated to a wildlife sanctuary instead of euthanised. </p> <p>“The BEAR League reached out to the director of an excellent out-of-state wildlife sanctuary who agreed he has room and would be very willing to give this bear a permanent home,” said executive director Ann Bryant.</p> <p>“We notified [the California Department of Fish and Wildlife] on Tuesday morning asking that this option be seriously considered rather than killing the bear.”</p> <p>While talks to relocate Hank are still ongoing, the CDFW has urged residents to practice preventive measures to keep bears out, such as securing garbage properly and keeping trash out of cars. </p> <p>According to the New York Post, when people relocated to Tahoe Keys to work from home due to the pandemic, these new residents did not adhere to preventive measures, prompting Hank the Tank to come out of the woods and forage for food. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook - BEAR League</em></p>

Family & Pets

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“Odiously absurd”: Animal shelter euthanises dogs over COVID-19 fears

<p>An animal shelter in north-west New South Wales has come under fire for euthanising several rescue dogs. </p> <p>Authorities at the Bourke Shire Council put down the animals to further enforce COVID-19 travel restrictions in the area .</p> <p>A shelter in Cobar, in there state's central west, was supposed to come and collect the animals, but the Bourke Shire Council didn't want breaching state-wide travel restrictions. </p> <p><span>Residents in regional New South Wales are currently subject to lockdown measures, containing them to their local government area unless leaving for essential reasons.</span></p> <p>The town of Cobar has a population of under 4,000 and has remained <span>largely untouched by COVID-19, with fragments detected in wastewater samples but no cases reported.</span></p> <p>The Office of Local Government has launched an investigation to the killings, after receiving nation-wide backlash. </p> <p><span>Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst said she was told 16 dogs were killed, including a “mother dog and her puppies”.</span></p> <p><span>The MP took to Facebook to express her anger and sadness at the cruel act.</span><span></span></p> <p class="css-1316j2p-StyledParagraph e4e0a020">“While there are reports the dogs were shot, our contacts have told us they were euthanised,” she wrote.</p> <p class="css-1316j2p-StyledParagraph e4e0a020">“I’m sharing this to make it clear there is NO health order for pounds to kill all the animals - please share this so it doesn’t happen again.”</p> <p class="css-1316j2p-StyledParagraph e4e0a020">News of the mass-killings have reached an international audience online, with many condemning the barbarity of the council's decision. </p> <p class="css-1316j2p-StyledParagraph e4e0a020"><span>British comedian and animal right activist Ricky Gervais described the council as “stupid c****” while English football legend Gary Lineker said it was “odiously absurd”.</span></p> <p class="css-1316j2p-StyledParagraph e4e0a020"><em>Image credit: FILE PHOTO - Shutterstock</em></p>

Family & Pets

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"Crushed with guilt": Decision to put down "pandemic puppy" causes heated debate

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A journalist has sparked debates online over her decision to euthanise her dog she adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Madeline Bills published a piece on </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Slate </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">sharing the story of her adoption of Bennie, “a six-year old beagle whose photo melted my heart”, just before Christmas.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Like many others last year, I was thrilled to adopt a dog,” she wrote.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The so called pandemic puppy boom made for what felt like stiff competition at the time.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But, the journalist said the New Jersey animal shelter she adopted Bonnie from likely failed to inform her of the dog’s history of aggressive behaviour.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After six months of behavioural training and “daily dog anxiety meds” seemed to make no difference to Bonnie’s biting, Bilis made the decision to try and rehome the pooch.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“But I soon learned the shelter where Bonnie came from wouldn’t help me. A volunteer explained that Bonnie was too dangerous to adopt out again, and their affiliated sanctuaries - including several beagle-specific rescues - declined to take her,” she wrote. “Another dog rescue organisation in New York City told me that her bite history - seven bites at the time, though that number would grow - was too extensive for her to even qualify for a special rehabilitation program.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bilis said both conversations ended with the same conclusion: “behavioural euthanasia”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“She was adorable - and violent,” Bilis wrote. “I found a resolution many choose but few acknowledge.” </span></p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/madelinebilis/status/1402611855252668417"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://twitter.com/madelinebilis/status/1402611855252668417</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The article drew praise from some readers for addressing a difficult topic, which described how Bonnie was involved in several biting incidents.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Last Christmas morning, I patted my bed, invitingly my newly adopted beagle, Bonnie, to jump and cuddle,” she began in the piece.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“My boyfriend, still under the covers, reached out to pet her soft little head, which was now wedged between us. I turned away to grab my phone, and it happened: a guttural bark, followed by a human scream. I whipped around to see my boyfriend’s hand covered in blood. It was Bonnie’s second bite in the week since I’d adopted her.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bilis recounted another incident where Bonnie bit a man walking past them on the footpath, though she was surprised “the man brushed off the incident”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the number of incidents continued to grow, Bilis said her “desire to stop living with a dangerous animal” grew too.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“As the weeks went by and no new options appeared, I realised I had a choice: I could send her off with a stranger one day - someone she would certainly injure, and who would perhaps end up euthanising her anyway - or I could allow her to leave this terrifying world peacefully with someone she loves.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She stressed the choice to pursue behavioural euthanasia was “not a decision made out of convenience”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Crushed with guilt, I wondered if there was more I could have done to help my sweet beagle,” she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Unsurprisingly, the article drew criticism online, with other owners of adopted dogs claiming the decision was motivated by inconvenience.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One user said that in her “30-year-plus career as a veterinarian who works on dogs with anxieties and behavioural issues, I’ve only had to euthanise two dogs for child safety reason.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many also defended Bilis, agreeing she had no choice in the matter.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“A lot of people angry about this article but obviously the correct thing to do with a violent and dangerous domesticated animal is put it down,” wrote </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Daily Wire</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> host Matt Walsh.</span></p>

Family & Pets

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“He taught me unconditional love”: Terminally ill teen films message before ending his own life

<p>The heartbroken parents of a terminally ill teenager who took his own life in front of them are on a mission to get voluntary euthanasia introduced nationwide after the traumatic experience.</p> <p>Rhys Habermann pleaded for his hardworking parents to be spared the consequences of his decision in a devastating video that was handed over to the police and ABC's 7.30 program.</p> <p>The 19-year-old told the camera he wanted the right to die peacefully.</p> <p>"I believe in my right to die by my own choosing. This is tough for everybody but I refuse to go through palliative care, after experiencing a little bit of it this last week," he said.</p> <p>"It's more painful than I could have ever imagined."</p> <p>His parents, Brett and Liz Habermann, from Wuddina, a small country town in South Australia, struggled with their son's decision for months.</p> <p>18 months before he passed on January 11. 2017, he was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a bone cancer that began in his hip but spread to his shoulders, ribs, spine, skull and lungs.</p> <p>"All Rhys wanted to do was continue with his Year 12 studies. The doctor said, 'Forget Year 12 mate, you need to concentrate on just staying alive'," Mr Habermann told the program.</p> <p>"It was terrible, after taking him home from chemo and just listening to him in his room at the flat we were using, just continuously vomiting."</p> <p>When it was revealed that his diagnosis was terminal, Rhys spoke to his parents about ending his own life rather than going through palliative care.</p> <p>He wanted to do it alone in a motel room so as not to potentially incriminate his parents. But they refused to allow it, telling Rhys he needed to be at home.</p> <p>"And he said, 'but you could go to jail' and it's like 'so be it, whatever'. And with that he taught me unconditional love, to be there with him," Ms Habermann said.</p> <p>"Rhys was really worried about what would happen afterwards. That's why he was adamant we shouldn't have been there, but there's no way in hell we weren't going to be there.</p> <p>"He spent the last 18 months of his life finding the best way to die that wasn't going to totally ruin us."</p> <p>In order to protect his family as much as he possibly could, Rhys asked his parents to film him from his bed.</p> <p>Within hours of Rhys' death, police had arrived and declared the home a crime scene.</p> <p>Officers spent 12 hours rummaging through Rhys' room, laptop, phone and personal affects. It took a further 18 months to clear his parents of any wrongdoing.</p> <p>"It could have been so much kinder to all of us. He was dying anyway," Ms Habermann said.</p> <p>"He felt so robbed that he didn't have a choice, that he was dying anyway. That choice was taken from him. We could've just all been in such a good place that we could have spent his final moments not being scared of what's going to happen."</p> <p>The couple are now pleading with Australian state governments to introduce assisted dying laws to allow people with terminal illnesses the option to die on their own terms.</p> <p>The mother-of-five is actively campaigning for sweeping changes to current laws.</p> <p>"It is their choice. It is voluntary. It is peaceful. It is time South Australian politicians (who seem to think they are God) show these people compassion and pass this Bill," she said earlier this month on the matter.</p> <p>"Apparently it needs to be accepted as a part of life that some people will suffer intolerable pain as they are dying and we have no right to 'kill' them off.</p> <p>"The passing of this Bill in SA won't help my son but I’m still doing this for you Rhys - you deserved so much more than the crap hand life threw at you."</p>

News

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Facebook blocks terminally ill man from live streaming his death

<p>Facebook said it would block the livestream of a Frenchman suffering from an incurable condition who wanted to broadcast his death on the social media platform. </p> <p>Alain Cocq recently announced that he was refusing all food, drink and medicine after President Emmanuel Macron declined his request for euthanasia.</p> <p>The 57-year-old suffers from a rare medical condition which causes the walls of his arteries to stick together.</p> <p>Cocq believed he had less than a week to live and said he would broadcast his death from Saturday morning.</p> <p>"The road to deliverance begins and believe me, I am happy," he wrote on Facebook shortly after midnight in a post announcing he had "finished his last meal".</p> <p>"I know the days ahead are going to be difficult but I have made my decision and I am calm," he added.</p> <p>Facebook has been heavily criticised over the way it monitors content and said it was against their rules to portray suicide.</p> <p>"Although we respect  (Cocq's) decision to want to draw attention to this complex question, following expert advice we have taken measures to prevent the live broadcast on Alain's account," a Facebook spokesman told AFP.</p> <p>"Our rules do not allow us to show suicide attempts." </p> <p>Cocq is trying to gather supporters saying: "Facebook is blocking my video broadcast until September 8."</p> <p>"It is up to you now," he said in a message to supporters before giving out Facebook's French address "so you can let them know what you think about their methods of restricting free speech".</p> <p>"There will be a back-up within 24 hours" to run the video, he added.</p> <p>Cocq had asked Macron for permission after he wanted to die in peace by taking a substance, but the president refused, saying it was not allowed under French law.</p> <p>Cocq has used his plight to draw attention to the situation of terminally ill patients in France who are unable to be allowed to die in line with their wishes.</p> <p>"Because I am not above the law, I am not able to comply with your request," Macron said in a letter to Cocq, which the patient published on his Facebook page.</p> <p>"I cannot ask anyone to go beyond our current legal framework... Your wish is to request active assistance in dying which is not currently permitted in our country."</p>

Legal

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Paralympic gold medallist dies by euthanasia at age 40

<p>Paralympian gold medallist Marieke Vervoort has passed away by euthanasia at the age of 40, 11 years after making a promise to herself.</p> <p>The Belgian Paralympian suffered from an incurable degenerative spinal condition which was diagnosed at the age of 21.</p> <p>The diagnosis followed years of pain, and Vervoort continued to suffer after receiving her diagnosis.</p> <p>"I know how I feel now, but I don't know how I'll feel after half an hour," she says. "It can be that I feel very, very bad, I get an epileptic attack, I cry, I scream because of pain. I need a lot of painkillers, valium, morphine,” she told<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/disability-sport/50150513" target="_blank">the BBC.</a></em></p> <p>"A lot of people ask me how is it possible that you can have such good results and still be smiling with all the pain and medication that eats your muscles. For me, sports, and racing with a wheelchair - it's a kind of medication."</p> <p>Vervoort was a strong advocate for euthanasia, as she first signed the documents necessary back in 2008, just six years after euthanasia was made legal in Belgium.</p> <p>"I was a very depressed person. I was thinking about how I was going to kill myself,” she said.</p> <p>"All those people who get those papers here in Belgium – they have a good feeling. They don't have to die in pain.</p> <p>"They can choose a moment, and be with the people they want to be with. With euthanasia you're sure that you will have a soft, beautiful death."</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3x0kvcH4ud/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3x0kvcH4ud/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Can’t forget the good memories!</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/wielemie.marieke.vervoort/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Marieke Vervoort</a> (@wielemie.marieke.vervoort) on Oct 18, 2019 at 4:45pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>A statement from the Belgian Paralympic Committee and IPC called her a “source of inspiration in our society”.</p> <p>"We will not forget Marieke Vervoort's great sporting achievements, as well as her courage in the face of illness," said President of the Belgian Paralympic Committee, Anne d'Ieteren.</p> <p>Marc Vergauwen, Secretary General of the Belgian Paralympic Committee, shared the same sentiment.</p> <p>“Marieke Vervoort brought the disabled into the light with her two medals at the London Paralympic Games.</p> <p>"Her performances as well as her spontaneous interviews after her races generated great media attention for Paralympic sport in Belgium and were a source of inspiration for our society."</p>

Caring

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Second Australian state moves one step closer to legalising assisted death

<p>Western Australia is one step closer to legalising voluntary euthanasia for terminally ill adults after the state parliament’s lower house passed proposed government laws on Tuesday.</p> <p>44 of the 59 lower house MPs voted in favour of the bill, but the vote in the upper house later this month is expected to be tighter.</p> <p>Should the upper house pass the proposed legislation, WA will become the second state in Australia to adopt assisted dying laws, after Victoria.</p> <p>The first vote came as hundreds of euthanasia supporters rallied at the parliament house to urge MPs to back the bill.</p> <p>The proposed laws would allow terminally ill adults who are likely to die within six months – or one year if they have a neurodegenerative condition – to take a drug to end their lives or ask for medical assistance to do so.</p> <p>“This bill will protect vulnerable people in ways that do not exist now,” Health Minister Roger Cook said.</p> <p>“This is a watershed moment. We must have the courage and confidence to uphold these freedoms for the most vulnerable in our society.”</p> <p>Rex Tion, one of the rally’s attendees, said his late grandfather was a “strong advocate” for assisted dying.</p> <p>“He expressed numerous times that he wanted his way out,” Tion told <em><a href="https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/western-australia/hundreds-rally-at-parliament-as-wa-euthanasia-laws-clear-first-hurdle-20190903-p52nm1.html">WAtoday</a></em>.</p> <p>“Unfortunately he never got his way, but I’m hopeful that when my time comes, I’ll at least have a choice.</p> <p>“Judging from what I’ve seen, there are a number of safeguards in place and I’m confident that there’s enough checks and balances to ensure that people are not being taken advantage of.”</p> <p>Some critics said the bill should have more safeguards in place, including a requirement for the patients to undergo a psychiatric assessment before they could access the option.</p> <p>“There exists the very real [opportunity] for abuse,” said Labor MP Michelle Roberts. “The fact that we need safeguards means there is something inherently worrying about the principle.”</p> <p>Roberts also said doctors may make mistakes in estimating life expectancy, citing the case of former Labor MP Batong Pham who unexpectedly survived a stroke. “No-one can tell me doctors don’t make mistakes.”</p>

Caring

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Magda Szubanski's question brings man to tears: “I’ll live with the decision I made”

<p>A Canberra man who was close to facing jail time for helping his terminally ill wife take her own life has broken down on TV after he was asked a heartbreaking question from Magda Szubanski.</p> <p>Neil O’Riordan appeared on <em>The Project</em> last night, only a few short hours after the charges made against him were dropped.</p> <p>The 63-year-old was arrested earlier in the year and was charged with assisted suicide after he helped his wife of 25 years end her life.</p> <p>Shane Drumgold, the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions, said forcing Neil to face court would be “unduly harsh and oppressive”, saying he was “motivated wholly by love and compassion”.</p> <p>His wife Penelope Blume made the tough decision after she was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2016 and saw her health getting progressively worse.</p> <p>She then turned to her husband about ending her life.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">Imagine being faced with a terminally ill partner who’d made the decision to end their life. You can’t change their mind, so you decide to help fulfill that wish. Then imagine being dragged through the courts immediately afterwards. This is Neil's heartbreaking story. <a href="https://t.co/0r8ku53eDF">pic.twitter.com/0r8ku53eDF</a></p> — The Project (@theprojecttv) <a href="https://twitter.com/theprojecttv/status/1145983997283098624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">2 July 2019</a></blockquote> <p>“For Penelope, who’d always enjoyed good health, having a body that didn’t work anymore was catastrophic,” Neil told <em>The Project</em>.</p> <p>By March, Penelope was completely dependant on Neil for everything. It was soon after she made the painstaking decision to say goodbye.</p> <p>“It’s the bravest thing I’ve ever seen. I’ll live with the decision that I made,” he said.</p> <p>Neil said he was relieved to not be facing jail time of potentially 10 years but also wishes the ACT accepted euthanasia in the same way as Victoria.</p> <p>The state legalised voluntary euthanasia two weeks ago.</p> <p>“I grew up in what used to be a compassionate and caring country, and I guess I’ve become concerned that we display less and less of those characteristics,” said Neil.</p> <p>“I would hope when it comes to the issue of voluntary assisted dying that we go back to the compassion and caring country that we used to be.”</p> <p>Neil kept his emotions in check throughout the interview but broke down after Magda Szubanski asked him a sensitive question.</p> <p>“It must have been an incredibly hard thing to do,” Szubanski said.</p> <p>“When the final moment came, were you at peace with the decision because you knew that it was what Penelope wanted?”</p> <p>He laughed slightly before responding: “OK. Theoretically, yes, I was perfectly fine with it,” he said, as his voice began breaking.</p> <p>“Until it happened. And I was devastated. I wailed. I thought about the unfairness about why couldn’t I be doing this with my family? Why did we have to be covert?”</p> <p>The couple spent their final night together by going on a date but spoke openly about what was to come.</p> <p>“We weren’t secretive about it. I’m surrounded by people who love and care about me. People were aware of what was going to happen,” he said.</p> <p>“I guess the covertness comes from the fact that the way that it had to happen. I would hope there are opportunities in the future for people to perhaps do that with their family more involved for the processes to be less covert.”</p> <p>Neil then revealed that their final hours spent together was exactly what Penelope wanted.</p> <p>“She wanted to see the beach again, eat seafood again, difficult to acquire in Canberra, and mostly, I guess, we wanted to spend some time alone together,” he said.</p> <p>“I was prepared to and fully expected to be charged, and I guess at some level I expected to be convicted, and I’m very grateful that the court made a different decision.”</p>

Caring

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Jamie Durie's legal battle with former right-hand man

<p>Jamie Durie founded his design practice in 1998 and then soon after, became a household name after appearing on home improvement shows, such as Backyard Blitz and The Block.</p> <p>He then received international acclaim after making regular appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show for over four years and has now hosted more than 50 design shows around the globe.</p> <p>However, the 48-year-old’s multimillion-dollar design company has been quietly crumbling.</p> <p>On May 3, Durie’s company JPD Media and Design Pty Ltd went into voluntary administration, with Simon Cathro from Worrels Solvency and Forensic Accountants appointed to look into the company’s financial affairs.</p> <p>The news followed a long legal battle between Durie and his former employee Mike Curnow, who had worked as the company’s global head of licensing.</p> <p>Curnow was hired by the company in 2004 and let go in 2013.</p> <p>Curnow then launched legal action against his former employer for unpaid commissions.</p> <p>In March, the Supreme Court ruled Mr Curnow was owed $563,049, which does not include the judgement on interest and costs which is yet to be made. Solicitors estimate the interest and costs could push the total amount owed to more than $1 million.</p> <p>Mr Curnow was not paid the initial sum by April, and so his legal team filed a creditor’s statutory demand for the payment, which was due by May 4, reported the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/private-sydney-dirt-flies-over-fall-of-gardening-empire-20180531-p4zims.html" target="_blank"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Sydney Morning Herald.</span></strong></em></a></p> <p>However, just one day before the payment was due, Durie placed his company into voluntary administration, with just $1 in the bank.</p> <p>Curnow, who is still waiting for his payout, said he was “absolutely disgusted” over the situation.</p> <p>“This has cost me my marriage, my home and my career,” Mr Curnow said of the legal fight with Durie.</p> <p>“If he thinks I’m going to give up now, he’s mistaken. I’m not going anywhere.”</p> <p>According to the <em>Sydney Morning Herald</em>, the company also owes cash to other creditors including the Australian Taxation Office, with more than $215,000 in unpaid taxes for the 2016/17 financial year.</p> <p>The legal battle also revealed that Durie had taken a $500,000 loan from ex-Macquarie group boss Bill Moss in 2010 to keep his business running.</p> <p>Durie had been forced to ask for an extension on the loan, admitting to Moss that he had “made some bad decisions”.</p> <p>Durie previously told Fairfax reporters that Curnow had “made millions out of me over the years”.</p>

Legal

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David Goodall: Scientist who took own life at 104 will not be having a funeral

<p>The world-renowned Australian scientist who travelled to Switzerland to die by assisted suicide insisted that he did not want a funeral before he passed away at aged 104.</p> <p>Dr David Goodall died at the suicide clinic in Liestal, near Basel, Switzerland, at 11.30am on Thursday morning, surrounded by family and friends.</p> <p>His final words were “This is taking an awful long time”, just before a lethal dose of a sleeping drug entered his body.</p> <p>In accordance with his final wishes, Beethoven's Ode to Joy played on an iPad, before Dr Goodall died two minutes later.</p> <p>He instructed there be no ceremony held for him because he did not believe in an afterlife.   </p> <p>Dr Goodall also requested that his body be donated to medicine and, if that was not possible, that his ashes be sprinkled “locally”.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/2018/05/how-104-year-old-david-goodall-is-spending-his-last-day-before-ending-his-life/">Dr Goodall spent his last day</a></span></strong> touring the Basel University Botanical Gardens with three of his grandchildren.</p> <p>At night, he enjoyed a final supper of his favourite meal fish and chips and cheesecake with family and friends.</p> <p>Dr Philip Nitschke who was by Dr Goodall’s side in his last moments told Mail Online: “It is the first time I have heard someone say it’s taking a long time when the drug is intravenous, but David was quite impatient for it to be over.”</p> <p>He added: “He was told it would be a peaceful death and it was. He had his sense of humour right up to the end. He was very pleased to hear the music.</p> <p>“It was a wonderful experience to know him and be so intimately involved in his final weeks of life. Especially after David’s 20 odd years of membership of Exit International.”</p> <p>Before the drug was administered, Dr Goodall was asked four questions by a doctor overseeing the procedure.</p> <p>Dr Goodall was asked to say his name, his date of birth and why he was at the clinic. On the final question he was asked what would happen to him, he replied: “I hope my heart stops.”</p> <p>There was a slight hiccup in the procedure when the Dr Goodall was unable to operate a wheel that would send the lethal drug into his body. He could not twist the wheel, so doctors gave him a switch to flick.</p> <p>As soon as the switch was flicked, Ode to Joy began playing in the room. Dr Goodall closed his eyes and was certified dead by a doctor.</p> <p>Dr Goodall will be cremated in Switzerland and his ashes flown back to his family in Perth, Australia.</p>

Body

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How 104-year-old David Goodall is spending his last day before assisted suicide

<p>The 104-year-old Australian scientist who travelled to Switzerland to die today has cheerfully sung 'Ode to Joy' in his last press conference on the eve of his suicide. </p> <p>British-born David Goodall, who is not ill, says his quality of life has deteriorated to such a point that he wants to die. He has vision, hearing and mobility troubles common with his advancing age.</p> <p>“At my age, or less than my age, one wants to be free to choose the death when the death is at an appropriate time,” David said.</p> <p>“My abilities have been in decline over the past year or two, my eyesight over the past six years. I no longer want to continue life. I’m happy to have the chance tomorrow to end it.”</p> <p>Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland, but it is frowned up by many doctors and people who believe it should be reserved for the terminally ill.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F9News%2Fvideos%2F1929092097138618%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p> <p>However, David’s supporters want assisted suicide to be accepted as a legitimate choice for elderly people, like David, who are ready to go.</p> <p>Life Circle, a small assisted suicide advocacy group based in Basel, and Dr Philip Nitschke, founder of Australian right-to-die group Exit International, are assisting David in his wish and hope to show that it is reasonable for people who are extremely old but not terminally ill to end their lives, too.</p> <p>Professor Goodall, who was born in 1914, flew from his home in Western Australia to France last week to see relatives before arriving in Switzerland.</p> <p>“Luckily my family who are in various parts of Europe and America have rallied round and come to see me, and I welcome the opportunity to see them, which I probably wouldn’t have had if I hadn’t pursued this Swiss option,” he said.</p> <p>He spent his last day touring the Basel University Botanical Gardens with three of his grandchildren.</p> <p>“I feel very privileged that I will be able to be there when my grandfather passes away,” Mr Goodall’s 30-year-old grandson Daniel <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5708877/British-scientist-104-spends-time-family-eve-assisted-suicide-Switzerland.html" title="www.dailymail.co.uk">told the </a><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5708877/British-scientist-104-spends-time-family-eve-assisted-suicide-Switzerland.html" target="_blank" title="www.dailymail.co.uk">Daily Mail.</a></strong></span><iframe id="google_ads_iframe_/5129/ndm.lifestyle/lifestyle//reallife//newslife_5" title="3rd party ad content" name="google_ads_iframe_/5129/ndm.lifestyle/lifestyle//reallife//newslife_5" width="4" height="4" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0" data-integralas-id-dcc3c576-d1db-3fcc-d52a-a72c5690cec5=""></iframe></p> <p>“He is so brave and I am so glad that he has been able to make his own choice.</p> <p>“It is his wish that he can end his life, but such a shame that he was not allowed to do it in his own country,” he said.</p> <p><img width="466" height="350" src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/856915380805a66674b759cffeec05a7" alt="David Goodall tours the Basel University Botanical Gardens with three of his grandchildren and two of their partners. Picture: Sean Gallup" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>David was cleared by two Swiss doctors, including a psychiatrist on Wednesday who said he was of sound mind, to proceed with the “Swiss option”.</p> <p> </p>

Caring

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Bad news for Jamie Oliver’s Aussie fans

<p>Jamie Oliver’s Australian restaurant group has gone into voluntary administration forcing the immediate closure of the Canberra-based restaurant.</p> <p>Two years ago, the celebrity chef bought back the Jamie’s Italian chain from failed hospitality group the Keystone Group in March 2017.</p> <p><em>The Canberra Times</em> revealed that staff at the Canberra restaurant were given no warning of the sudden closure of the eatery.</p> <p>Jamie Oliver’s other Italian restaurants in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide will be taken over by Brisbane-based Hallmark Group.</p> <p>Yesterday, chief operating officer of the Australian Jamie’s Italian chain, Ben Shaughnessy, called in the voluntary administrators after consecutive meetings with Hallmark to discuss the sale and creditor HSBC.</p> <p>On Monday evening, the PR business representing Jamie’s Italian in Australia issued a statement, announcing “a new operating partner for its Australian business”.</p> <p>A spokesperson for the Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group Australia said, “Australia has and continues to be one of our best performing international markets and, after a short period of in-house management we are pleased to be partnering with Hallmark.</p> <p>"The team brings a huge amount of experience and passion for our brand, from collaborating with the key suppliers to our food philosophy, and we look forward to working with them as they develop the Jamie’s Italian restaurant offering across Australia."</p> <p>On social media the Canberra restaurant said, “This is pretty sad news for the staff but Jamie's Italian has closed suddenly this morning and it looks like it won't be reopening anytime soon.”</p> <p>“The remaining restaurants in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Parramatta and Adelaide are to remain open.</p> <p>The announcement follows a recent scandal where a chef at one of the Italian restaurants was caught using packet gnocchi – despite claims the restaurant makes produce fresh daily.</p> <p>An observant customer dining at the restaurant on Pitt Street, Sydney, took a photo of a chef preparing to use a packet of ready-made gnocchi.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="499" height="645" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7817516/1_499x645.jpg" alt="1 (118)"/></p> <p>On the menus of the popular restaurants, it says that they "make fresh pasta, right here every day”.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="498" height="355" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7817517/2_498x355.jpg" alt="2 (69)"/></p> <p>It has been revealed that Jamie Oliver’s international restaurant chains had a pre-tax loss of $17.5 million. The UK business entered into a Company Voluntary Arrangement believing it can trade out of its trouble.</p> <p>On Friday, his chain announced that twelve of his restaurants will close as part of a company restructure.</p> <p>The firm said, “We are pleased to have received the overwhelming support from our creditors for our proposal to reshape Jamie's Italian restaurants.”</p> <p>“We have a strong brand and are focused on continuing to deliver the levels of service, taste and the experience our loyal customers deserve.”    </p> <p>The UK chef has 25 restaurants in the UK and 28 overseas. There are six Jamie’s Italian restaurants across Australia.</p>

Money & Banking

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Bad news for shoppers: Handbag brand Oroton goes bust

<p>Luxury handbag maker Oroton has gone into voluntary administration, with shoppers swarming the retailer to snap up bargains as it attempts to clear stock.</p> <p>Oroton, whose most public face is Australian actor Rose Byrne, made the announcement this morning prompting shoppers to head on line and snap up the heavily-discounted stock ahead of the busy Christmas shopping season.</p> <p>And there are plenty of bargains to be had. For example, the large Melanie tote bag that was retailing for $595 is now going for a paltry $116. And the Signature O Baby Bag which originally cost $495 is now just $148.50. </p> <p>Interim chief executive Ross Lane claimed the 79-year-old Australian retailer had no choice but to go bust, after efforts to recapitalise or sell the business failed miserably.</p> <p>“The board is disappointed that it has had to take this step after running such a comprehensive process,” he said in a statement lodged with the Australian Securities Exchange.</p> <p>“However, having carefully considered the options available to the company at the conclusion of its strategic review, it is apparent that voluntary administration is necessary to protect the Oroton business and the future of this iconic Australian brand.”</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Forotonstudio%2Fposts%2F10155176172128927&amp;width=500" width="500" height="736" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe></p> <p>Oroton is the latest company to go bust as retailers continue to struggle with pressures from online shopping, high overheads and an uncertain consumer market.</p> <p>What are your thoughts? </p>

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