Politics

Derryn Hinch plans to end his own life under euthanasia laws if cancer returns

Feb 10, 2019

Derryn Hinch has fought for new euthanasia laws. Source: Getty.

He has publicly fought for changes to Australia’s euthanasia laws and recently celebrated Victoria becoming the first state to vote in favour of voluntary assisted dying.

And now senator and radio host Derryn Hinch, 75, has revealed he plans to utilise the new laws himself, should his cancer ever return and impact his quality of life.

Speaking in an exclusive chat with the Sunday Telegraph, the politician insisted that choosing when you die is a “civil right”.

“When the quality of my life drops below what I accept as a standard I can wear, I am out of here,” Hinch told the news outlet, before adding: “It can be selfish because of the people you leave behind, but I watched my mother die, she had no modesty, I don’t want that.”

Hinch successfully overcame liver cancer in 2011 thanks to a life-saving transplant.

He now hopes to continue campaigning for further changes to make it easier for people with terminal illnesses to end their own lives.

Following Victoria’s new law, the Alfred Hospital will be the only facility in the country to legally administer a lethal dose of a euthanasia drug from June 19.

The senator’s first battle with cancer was brought on by heavy drinking at the time, and he sparked anger last year when he defiantly revealed he plans to continue drinking – despite his transplant.

Hinch fell over in March 2018 and was taken to hospital, before admitting he had two glasses of wine on the night. He insisted at the time that he wasn’t “pissed” when he fell – but it was actually down to a dodgy knee.

However, he then vowed he will continue to “live his life” and enjoy a drink.

“Thank goodness the Uber driver and a passer-by called an ambulance, which was here in four minutes,” he told reporters on The Morning Show in Melbourne. “I was unconscious, knocked out, and had a big lump on the back of my head.

“I’d had two glasses of wine with my dinner guest that night at their house and I came home and it all happened outside my house. I drink occasionally and I’m not stupid.”

He first revealed he was drinking again in 2016, after going dry for five years following his transplant, but he insists he’s careful with it.

“I’m very appreciative to the family of my donor,” he added. “But you have to live your life, I didn’t have a drink for five years and swore I would never drink again, but you have got to live your life.”

As his fans asked after him on Twitter, Hinch hit back at criticism over him drinking again, saying at the time: “Yes I do sometimes, with my surgeon’s permission. I didn’t die and so I shall live.”