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Whatsapp Peter Short wants to start a national debate on the issue of euthanasia.

Peter Short, a 57-year-old former executive with Wesfarmers/Coles, was diagnosed with terminal oesophageal cancer in January. Today he wrote to every chairman, board member and CEO of Australia’s top 300 public companies urging them to promote discussion of euthanasia.

I am a 57-year-old Melbourne man, and was until January a senior executive with Wesfarmers/Coles, running Shell Coles Express—a $7 billion fuel and convenience business.

At that stage I was diagnosed with a return of the oesophageal cancer I thought I had beaten. I retired and was given between three and nine months to live. Dr Rodney Syme, a Melbourne doctor, inspired me early in the piece, followed by Dying with Dignity organisations.

I need the help of a broad base of well-informed and influential people to give this topic oxygen at board level and within companies.

These organisations have been fighting for years to obtain the legal right for terminally ill and incurably suffering people to be given the choice of medically assisted death in strictly controlled circumstances.

Senator Richard Di Natale responded to a piece I wrote for The Age. He met my family and asked for our support in launching a game changing approach to this issue: the introduction of a federal bill for bipartisan comment, envisaging an eventual conscience vote.

The benefits of such an approach would be enormous. It would bring the whole country to the debate, with a richness of diverse positions. It would also stand a real chance of achieving what 80 per cent of Australians want: a choice for the use of medically assisted death when terminal, with appropriate safeguards and controls for everyone.

So where do companies fit in the debate? I have engaged the political spectrum and Australia as best I can through my use of social media, radio and TV interviews, and my blog. It is obvious, though, that the topic is just not able to get the broad exposure and discussion it needs.

I have reached the conclusion that corporate Australia has many roles. Boards and CEOs need to address broad social issues, as well as those most directly relevant to their shareholders, customers and teams.

Read more: A modern death

It is also clear that the people running our largest public companies are successful, influential and generally possess strong values. They want better outcomes broadly and having the best palliative care and options for the dying can only help the process of loved ones passing and its aftermath.

In the corporate sector, this contributes in a real way to team morale and a quicker return to work. A better dying experience leaves far less casualties behind. With the workforce ageing, this is a growing opportunity.

I need the help of a broad base of well-informed and influential people to give this topic oxygen at board level and within companies. It may not be that firms take an official position on euthanasia, but they should create an environment where their employees know it is on the agenda for dicussion. Those who wish to get involved then can.

The CEO of ANZ New Zealand recently named his daffodil in my honour at the launch of their Daffodil Day campaign for the Cancer Council. All 9,000 ANZ New Zealand team members were brought into the debate and shown my blog so they could learn more about terminal illness and legislative change. I need this sort of support in Australia.

Dying with dignity Listen to Life Matters to hear the interview with Peter Short.

By necessity, my emails to the ASX 300 were mostly routed to media or public relations departments, but asked to be forwarded directly to each chair, board member and CEO.

I want the recipients to consider as boards and CEOs how they can bring to light the fact that there is currently a draft bill in the Australian Senate. Politicians need to understand we really do want action on euthanasia. Death must be talked about.

Even if action on euthanasia is impossible at a company level, board members and CEOs are privileged and influential and can therefore help. One person can change the world.

Finally, filmmaker Jeremy Irvine has my family’s support to make a 90 minute documentary that charts our terminal journey from diagnosis to death, whilst working to create legislative change.

It is not fun, but I do it as a plan B in order to keep this issue burning after my death. It will cost $300,000; we have $25,000 seed money and a crowd funding campaign due to commence. Any support will be gratefully received. I need this documentary to be produced and, I believe, so does the country.

Life Matters charts and analyses contemporary Australian life, with a special focus on social policy, personal stories, and listener contributions.



