Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Wellington coroner may get more than he bargained for


EUTHANASIA-FREE NEW ZEALAND PRESS RELEASE

Wellington coroner may get more than he bargained for.

The Wellington coroner, Ian Roderick Smith is reported today to be calling for M.Ps to debate the issue of euthanasia in an extension to his findings on the death of an elderly woman. According to some reports she was a member of a pro-euthanasia group and may have received assistance to die from a voluntary agency. If such is the case, the coroner may well be correct in labelling the death ‘euthanasia.’ .

The only Bill in the offing that would seek to legalise euthanasia is The Hon. Maryan Street’s End of Life Choice Bill. If it is that Bill that the coroner has in mind for MPs to debate, - presumably with the intent to legalise it – the coroner is actually calling for the enactment of legislation that includes a spectrum of indications considered appropriate for a request for euthanasia so broad that it overlaps with personal and social reasons for which people commit suicide. New Zealand society would then be faced with a dilemma.

On the one hand, responsible officials such as Mr. Smith’s boss, Chief Coroner Judge Neil MacLean would be anguishing about New Zealand’s high suicide rates as reported recently, while on the other, virtually anyone aged 18 and over would be able to have their lives terminated by the State provided they took a little care with the wording of their application! Moreover, not only would we see ‘suicide’ by euthanasia, but if trends in New Zealand followed those in Oregon State, U.S.A., the rate of suicide would not fall but would actually increase from the day euthanasia was legalised.

Suicide rates in Oregon are reported to be 35% higher than the national U.S. average: in that state, suicide appears to have become ‘normalised’. If euthanasia is legalised in New Zealand , the Wellington coroner may get more than he bargained for.

ENDS

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.