An Australian man with motor neurone disease has decided to end his life by euthanasia despite not wanting to die, due to being unable to access sufficient care and support from the state.
Tony Lewis, 71, from Queensland, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year, but is unable to access Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) because he is over the age limit.
Tony has to rely instead on the My Aged Care scheme, which can provide a maximum of $78,100 per year in funding for care. HelloCare, a media platform dedicated to ageing and care, describes the My Aged Care scheme as having “funding levels and response times” which “are widely acknowledged as inadequate for fast progressing neurological conditions”.
