A coalition of feminist groups, politicians and leading doctors campaigned for the decriminalisation of the state's abortion law. The Abortion Law Reform Act was passed by the state Parliament in October 2008. Two medical ethicists have put the case for infanticide in the Journal of Medical Ethics.

In the Roman era, infanticide was routine and normal.

The spreading influence of Christianity put a stop to the practice.

In 1920, Karl Binding and Alfred Hoche published their book The Permission to Destroy Life Unworthy of Life which advocated "compassionate" killing of those deemed "human ballast".

In an article in the NZ Herald, Bernard Moran says that when abortion up to birth is made legal, it is a short step to abortion after birth.

Continue reading in NZ Herald.

Image: Stuff.co.nz

Bernard Moran is the national president of Voice for Life

"Smith is within his coronial rights to describe Edna Gluyas' death as suicide or euthanasia, but to call for Parliament to yet again confront euthanasia is simply irresponsible in the light of what we now know about widespread elder abuse in New Zealand," he said.

And Ken Orr, Spokesperson for Right to Life, says his organisation believes that Smith's request is "reprehensible and a deadly threat to the common good".

" It is concerning that a Coroner should be advocating a culture of death with the murder of the vulnerable," he said.

Source

• Voice for life Inc: Stuff.co.nz
• Right to life: Voxy
• Image: ACU