David Seymour claims that submissions opposing his bill are the result of a campaign of “Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt” from an anti –assisted dying lobby spouting mistruths about the bill. He is seeking to influence the Justice Select Committee to reject submissions and in so doing undermining the democratic process. Seymour’s baseless allegations are deeply Read more
The Disability Commissioner and some people with disabilities say legalising euthanasia could lead to the erosion of rights for disabled people who choose to live. Disability Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero says David Seymour’s private member’s the End of Life Choice Bill, which was currently before the Justice Select Committee, undermined years of work to change perceptions Read more
The Bishop of Palmerston North is encouraging senior students in Catholic schools to get involved in the debate on euthanasia and to make submissions on the End of Life Choice Bill. Bishop Charles Drennan has sent out a letter to year 13 students in Catholic Colleges, suggesting they get involved in the discussion that is currently occurring Read more
An extreme version of a very bad idea is how Matthew Jansen describes David Seymour’s “End of Life Choice Bill”. Jansen, Secretary of the Care Alliance made the comment in a media release, 12 July, launching the “Ten questions for David Seymour” campaign. The campaign, designed to prompt New Zealand Members of Parliament to give Read more
Reacting to news that David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Bill has been drawn from the Ballot today, the New Zealand Catholic Bioethics Centre argues it will undermine the life choices for many should it become law. “We have grave concerns about the unintended consequences of the proposed legislation”, warns Director of The Nathaniel Centre Read more
A petition due to be presented to Parliament could be the catalyst for a fresh debate on voluntary euthanasia. Labour’s Iain Lees-Galloway says the End of Life Choice Society petition will be tabled at the first opportunity in Parliament and will go straight to a select committee. An editorial under the heading, the devil is in the Read more
“The right to die would very quickly become a duty to die,” says the director of the New Zealand Catholic Bioethics Centre, John Kleinsman. He was speaking to close to 140 people at a public meeting in New Plymouth last week. Kleinsman said his opposition to euthanasia was based on social concerns that its introduction, Read more
“While the decision by Labour MP Maryan Street to withdraw her Euthanasia Bill from the Members Ballot today is welcomed, we understand that it arises from purely political motives – a wish to avoid a controversial debate in an election year – rather than out of concern for the dangerous social consequences of such a Read more
“The legalising of euthanasia would open up new pathways of abuse for many elderly and otherwise vulnerable people,” says Director of The Nathaniel Centre and bioethics researcher John Kleinsman. His comments were made in response to MP Maryan Street’s End of Life Choice Bill being put into the Ballot. Ms Street has publicly admitted her Read more