Claire Freeman’s active and carefree life was destroyed at just 17. She was permanently physically disabled in a car crash caused by her mother. It was a moment in time that changed both their lives forever and caused Claire to try to end hers on many occasions. But after decades of difficulties and depression, shes Read more
A survey commissioned by Euthanasia-Free NZ and conducted by Curia Market Research (CMR), indicates the gap in public opinion between those who support and oppose the End of Life Choice Bill was narrowing. The survey results are based on 1048 responses. When questioned about specific aspects of euthanasia the poll found: 73 per cent were opposed Read more
A bug in an IT system used to count submissions to the controversial euthanasia bill ended up costing $75,000 to find 700 missing forms. Continue reading
Former New New Zealand prime minister the Right Honourable Sir Bill English and his wife Dr Mary English made a submission to a parliamentary committee considering the End of Life Choice Bill last Thursday. Mary English has worked as a general practitioner for 28 years. She has a practice in the inner Wellington suburb of Kelburn. They Read more
Representatives of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC) presented their reservations about David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Bill to the Justice Select Committee on Tuesday. Bishop Charles Drennan, Dr Caroline Newson, who works in acute psychiatry medicine, Dr John Kleinsman and researcher Dr Sue Buckley from the Nathaniel Institute made submissions. Drennan talked Read more
Parliament has extended the period for submissions on a euthanasia bill by six months, till March next year. “The committee could not have done the submitters justice if we had refused to travel or hear everyone who asked to be heard. It was therefore essential we had the six-month extension to allow us to give Read more
“What is clear is that this Bill intends to go beyond terminal illness; what is unclear is exactly what conditions are in or out,” says the Disability Rights Commissioner. “It is readily apparent that the scope is unclear and misunderstood,” said Paula Tesoriero. Paula Tesoriero published a scathing assessment of David Seymour’s End of Life Read more
Dr Graham O’Brien, argued for better palliative care and mental health services, in a debate on the End of Life Choice Bill at the Christ Church Transitional Cathedral last Thursday night. O’Brien said the bill was philosophically and practically flawed and would compromise medical professionals’ ethics. “If we say death is a right for somehow Read more
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops have voiced strong opposition to the End of Life Choice Bill in their written submission to the Justice Select Committee. The Bishops say that while some popular polls claim that New Zealanders are in support of the Bill, many commentators note that in fact what they are expressing is a view on Read more
“The current landmark court case in Canada again reinforces the fact that laws legalising euthanasia cannot provide safeguards that work,” says Dr Peter Thirkell, Care Alliance Secretary. Roger Foley has cerebellar ataxia, a terminal and incurable severe brain disorder that limits movement and leaves him unable to perform basic tasks independently. He wants to be Read more