Family First’s Simon O’Connor appeared on TVNZ’s Q&A this morning to push back on attempts to widen our euthanasia laws. In our view, he did a superb job – but judge for yourself!
As part of the coverage, Q&A also interviewed an anesthetist who offers assisted suicide – yes, an anesthetist – who also assesses coercion and mental capacity!
Did you know that of approximately 20,000+ medical professionals, as of 31 March 2023, just 148 practitioners are registered to be on the SCENZ lists. The SCENZ Group holds lists of practitioners willing to be an attending medical or nurse practitioner, independent medical practitioner, or psychiatrist in the assisted dying process.
Q&A didn’t speak to anyone from the 99% of medical professionals who want nothing to do with euthanasia.
And despite the fact that a review of the law is happening, ACT MP Todd Stephenson has just lodged a member’s bill in Parliament’s ballot to extend the eligibility for euthanasia. The End of Life Choice (Extended Eligibility) Amendment Bill removes the requirement for a terminally ill person to demonstrate a six-month prognosis. Many disabilities are life-limiting and involve complications that can become life-threatening. Will mental illness, ‘tired of life’ and even children be in the next bill lodged?
We would encourage you to watch this clip also. Host Jack Tame exposes the weakness of both the current law and of the proposed changes. And contrary to the ACT MP’s claims, palliative care is not a separate issue.
The government is reviewing the law. The review has been structured into two parts. The first is for the Ministry of Health to review the operation of the Act. The second is seeking the public’s feedback – and this is where we need your help.
We believe the review by the Ministry of Health is designed to expand euthanasia / PAS in New Zealand. They are only talking to select people and appear to have a starting point that the law is working well, so it is just about how to ‘improve things’. Your public feedback remains important as the answers will be collated and made available to all MPs when a new law is proposed.
So we need your help. The questionnaire is easy to access and use, with fifteen questions. You can go straight to the end and just put in your full comments if you want.
You have until 5pm THIS Thursday 26 September 2024 to complete it, so please find 10 minutes and complete it today.
We have provided a useful resource to let you know the questions, and some thoughts on each one, so that you in turn can write your own thoughts and words. You can access the resource here.
