Aaaaand... this has now become GAR#598 "Access To Euthanasia Services"
Co-author: Imperium Anglorum
Character count: 4608
Whereas individuals should possess the right to end their life on their own terms if they are in unbearable agony, and
Whereas the supposed dangers of permitting access to assisted suicide do not outweigh the right to have a dignified death,
Be it enacted as follows:
- Let these terms be defined as follows for the purposes of this resolution:
- "Informed consent" is bona fide consent provided by an individual on their own free will to a medical procedure, where they are fully aware of what they are consenting to, all significant consequences, and any potential alternatives; the individual in question may withdraw such consent at any time, and this consent may also be provided conditionally.
- “Assisted suicide” is a medical procedure to directly, quickly, and painlessly end the life of a patient, where:
- the patient has provided informed consent to the procedure and method thereof, and
- the patient has an incurable physical condition that will directly result in their death in the foreseeable future, or directly and severely compromises their quality of life with no realistic prospect of improvement.
- An "eligible patient" is an individual who biologically can die and is able to receive assisted suicide as per 1b.i and 1b.ii.
- Assisted suicide services are "locally accessible" in a given area if any necessary travel to receive said services poses no substantial burden to quality of life, time, or finances to individuals in that area seeking such services.
- Member states must provide fully subsidised assisted suicide services to eligible patients within their jurisdiction. Member states must also arrange and provide fully subsidised travel to receive such services for any eligible patient in areas within their jurisdiction where such services are not locally accessible. All such services and travel must be at no monetary cost to recipients.
- If a member state demonstrates bona fide to the General Accounting Office that they are unable to fund Section 2 services and travel without causing serious damage to their economy or finances, that member state shall receive funds from the World Assembly General Fund assessed by the General Accounting Office to aid them in funding Section 2 services and travel. Member states may not use such funds for any purpose other than funding Section 2 services and travel.
- No member state may discriminate against any persons, or persons related thereof, for receiving, seeking, administering, or otherwise facilitating, assisted suicide or Section 2 services, in ways including but not limited to:
- tax discrimination by placing a higher burden of tax on said persons,
- prosecuting individuals, or individuals related thereof, for receiving, seeking, administrating, or otherwise facilitating, assisted suicide or Section 2 services,
- withholding any inheritance from the heirs of individuals due to said individuals having died by assisted suicide or Section 2 assisted suicide, or
- failing to provide equal protection before the law to said persons.
- No member state may implement any policy with a cognisable impact of hindering the ability of eligible patients to receive assisted suicide, unless that policy does not violate any other provisions of this resolution and that member state demonstrates bona fide to the Independent Adjudicative Office that the policy furthers a clearly stated, compelling, and practical state interest, with narrowly tailored means that are the least restrictive means necessary to achieve said interest.
- No member state, persons, or group of persons may deliberately coerce or require an individual to seek or receive assisted suicide, nor may any member state, persons, or group of persons deliberately coerce or require an individual against seeking or receiving assisted suicide.
- A medical professional expressing a bona fide objection against performing assisted suicide may not be required to perform assisted suicide, as long as that professional directs patients seeking assisted suicide to easily, readily, and locally accessible assisted suicide services. No member state, persons, or group of persons may deliberately coerce or require a medical professional to either provide or not provide such an objection.
- In this resolution, singular words include the plural unless otherwise indicated, and older extant World Assembly resolutions shall overrule any conflicting provisions within this resolution. Member states must interpret and obey this resolution in good faith.
