One of the few State Liberals supporting euthanasia laws sacked a staff member after it was discovered the employee had accessed private emails to monitor confidential discussions about proposed right-to-die legislation.

Liberal MP John McGrath told The Weekend West one of his personal staff was forced to resign amid suggestions the staff member may have been passing on confidential discussions to other MPs opposed to euthanasia.

“It is a fact that recently I had to dismiss a staffer due to inappropriate use of a confidential email addressed to me,” Mr McGrath said.

“The material was related to the upcoming end-of-life choices legislation.”

Mr McGrath declined to name the staff member and declined to say who he believed had been receiving the information from him. The incident has raised paranoia levels among State MPs and underlined the pressures mounting on politicians and staff as a vote on euthanasia draws closer.

Last week, Mr McGrath questioned whether Liberal MPs would be allowed a free vote — as has been promised — amid concerns over the influence of party power brokers, particularly in the Upper House where the vote is expected to be in the balance.

The questioning forced Liberal leader Mike Nahan to issue a statement reassuring his MPs they would be allowed a free vote. Shadow health minister Sean L’Estrange said he too remained in favour of a free vote.

At an anti-abortion rally outside State Parliament in May, Liberal powerbroker Nick Goiran told a crowd it would be “reprehensible” for an MP to use their conscience vote to support the euthanasia Bill when suicide and elder abuse were big problems in the community. Pro-euthanasia MPs have also been critical of peak doctors lobby the Australian Medical Association.

The AMA last week seized on reports a 17-year-old rape victim in the Netherlands had been euthanised as an example of what might happen in WA if similar laws were passed.

But in subsequent media reports, the girl’s family, the Dutch health minister and the Royal Dutch Medical Association said she did not die of euthanasia and had instead died at home after she stopped eating and drinking, with doctors declining to intervene.

The WA branch of the Australian Medical Association has signalled it will lobby State MPs aggressively in the lead-up to a vote on euthanasia.

The medical body says it is opposed to euthanasia but is working within the process to ensure the laws are workable when brought into action.