NSW Liberal MPs are pushing to change the state’s voluntary assisted dying laws to treat aged care homes like faith-based hospitals in a move described as “a cruel culture war bill” that could take away the rights of seriously unwell elderly people to die in their home.

Liberal MLC Susan Carter has introduced a bill to amend the laws so that “residential facilities may decline to facilitate the administration of voluntary assisted dying services in the same way, and subject to the same obligations to make alternative arrangements, as hospitals”.

Under the current act , an aged care home “can choose not to participate in the provision of voluntary assisted dying services”. However, they must “not hinder a patient’s access to voluntary assisted dying”, according to NSW Health’s guidance

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