As she addressed the Victorian Parliament on Tuesday, South West Coast MP Roma Britnell described an assisted dying bill as “possibly the most challenging ... I will ever rise to speak on”.
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Mrs Britnell, a nurse for 30 years, spoke passionately about her support for the bill, citing examples that touched her during her medical career.
“I couldn’t begin to tell you how many people I nursed who were dying and how many I sat with as they took their last breath,” Mrs Britnell said.
“I supported many through the news of their diagnosis, many tears were shed from those in my care whilst they expressed their innermost fears.”
The lower house MP has previously spoken up about her support for legalising assisted dying.
Mrs Britnell said she had considered the issue of assisted dying at length, spending hours reflecting on people she nursed who experienced difficult deaths.
The MP cited examples of those whose suffering had stuck with her, including a mother of three young sons and a man with rotting throat cancer.
“There are so many stories of death that have left their mark on me,” she said.
“I don’t want to share too many graphic stories, some are too hard for me to speak about.
“I will never know whether any of the people I nursed would have chosen the pathway that this legislation would offer them. But I do know that many of them could have felt some comfort knowing this was a path that was available for them.”
The bill was debated in the legislative assembly on Tuesday, with a conscience vote to be held on the issue.
Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has said he will not support the changes, but endorsed a conscience vote being held.
