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The select committee inquiry into public attitudes to assisted dying has received 21,435 written submissions, and they are running three to one against the assistance to die.
Dr Jane Silloway Smith, Director of Every Life Research Unit has been analysing submissions made to the Health Select Committee’s investigation into ending one’s life in New Zealand.
She has conducted a random sampling of the 20,576 submissions made public by the Committee thus far.
Her analysis has found that 78% of submitters are against legalising assisted suicide, while 22% are in favour of changing the law.
The inquiry is in response to a petition presented to Parliament a year ago by former Labour MP Maryan Street.
Street is now president of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society of New Zealand Inc.
The petition asked Parliament “to investigate fully public attitudes towards the introduction of legislation which would permit medically-assisted dying in the event of a terminal illness or an irreversible condition which makes life unbearable”.
Health committee chair Simon O’Connor said the committee received 21,435 written submissions on the petition, and more than 1800 people were hoping to speak to the committee.
“The range of submissions, from what I have seen so far, is really broad. The committee will be taking all of that into it and making recommendations accordingly.”
Listen to interview with Simon O’Connor on Checkpoint
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