Richard Morecroft’s death this week at the age of 70 had some of his fans asking questions about the legality of Voluntary Assisted Dying in Australia.
The ABC and SBS legend, who was best known for his time as the ABC’s news anchor and as the host of Letters and Numbers on SBS, ended his life ‘at a time of his choosing’ on Tuesday, after receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis.
The news was met with confusion about Morecroft’s decision to end his own life, with some unsure about the legality of the procedure.
‘Is assisted dying legal in Australia?’ asked one person in the comments section online, while another questioned, ‘Is this legal?’
Others were unsure whether ‘euthanasia’ was the correct term.
In NSW, where Morecroft lived, the process of legally ending one’s own life is called Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD).
Richard Morecroft’s death this week at the age of 70 had some of his fans asking questions about the legality of Voluntary Assisted Dying in Australia. Richard is pictured
It has been available as a legal end-of-life option since November 2023, under the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2022.
Voluntary Assisted Dying is legal across most states in Australia, with the Northern Territory the last to pass it into law in August this year.
The VAD scheme for the Northern Territory is expected to start rolling out in 2028.
Voluntary Assisted Dying allows an eligible person with an advanced terminal illness to receive medical assistance to end their life.
This is done by the administration of prescribed medication by a doctor or nurse, or self-administered medication taken by the ill person themselves.
In order to access the scheme, several criteria must be met, including suffering from an advanced, progressive disease or medical condition, and receiving a formal assessment from two independent medical practitioners.
Morecroft was honoured in a post shared by family on his Instagram page on Tuesday evening.
‘Sadly, our beloved Richard died today, at a time of his choosing, on the south coast of NSW,’ the post reads.
‘He was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year and was grateful to go peacefully, with his partner of 36 years, Alison Mackay, beside him.’
Richard’s former Letters and Numbers co-star Lily Serna (right) paid tribute to him on Wednesday, sharing a number of unseen images documenting the media legend’s more private side
‘There was so much more to him than the news anchor people knew him as,’ she wrote
It continued: ‘We are devastated to lose such a warm, generous and caring human and hope that all those who knew him, if only through their TV screens, will remember him fondly.
‘Vale Richard Morecroft 20/01/56 – 06/10/26’.
Richard’s former Letters and Numbers co-star Lily Serna paid tribute to him on Wednesday, sharing a number of unseen images documenting the media legend’s more private side.
‘Such a rare and wonderful man. I was lucky enough to land my first TV gig with Richard and he showed me the ropes with such grace and patience,’ she wrote in a post on Instagram.
‘He was a TV veteran who was humble, kind and so generous with his time and knowledge, loved by cast and crew alike.
‘There was so much more to him than the news anchor people knew him as.
‘He was fun, adventurous, quirky and enthusiastic. He was an artist and photographer, always finding patterns in nature, and an eco warrior with a deep love for animals and the natural world.
‘I’ll treasure our conversations about the meaning of art and his patience with my maths brain trying to make sense of it all. I’ll treasure our friendship always.’
‘He was fun, adventurous, quirky and enthusiastic. He was an artist and photographer, always finding patterns in nature, and an eco warrior with a deep love for animals and the natural world,’ Lily explained in her tribute
Born in Leicestershire, England, and moving to Adelaide as a child, Morecroft forged a career as one of Australia’s most respected television journalists.
After a stint in radio, Morecroft joined the ABC in the 1980s, making his mark as an anchor for ABC News NSW, a role he kept for almost 20 years.
Between 2010 and 2012, Morecroft was the host of game show Letters and Numbers on SBS Television.
Morecroft also made a mark as an author, with his memoir, 20 Years from the Waist Up: Tales of a TV News Anchor, published in 2002.
He additionally authored a number of children’s titles, created in collaboration with his partner, Alison.
Richard was so recognisable as a steadfast news anchor that he made cameos, as himself, in a series of TV shows and movies, including Muriel’s Wedding, Lantana and Police Rescue.
In later years, Morecroft became associated with environmental issues as a trustee of the World Wide Fund for Nature and a patron of WIRES, as well as working with the Taronga Foundation and the Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales.
Source: https://www.dailymail.com/tvshowbiz/article-16189313/richard-morecroft-voluntary-assisted-dying-australia-abc-sbs.html