High Court Action Threatens lives of Vulnerable
Media Release March 23, 2015

Right to Life is disappointed that Lecretia Seales is to seek the High Court’s permission to have her doctor assist in her suicide, self murder, or provide her with a lethal injection.

Right to Life is moved with compassion for Lecretia who is tragically enduring an inoperable brain tumour and is understandably fearful of experiencing a painful death. We are blessed in New Zealand with having excellent hospices that provide world class palliative care with pain control and a dignified death. There is no need to kill the patient to control pain.

Lecretia claims that it is her right to choose to kill herself and that it is a human right.

This claim is challenged, there is no human right to choose to kill oneself. Since the beginning of civilisation it has been held that we do not have a right to kill ourselves or seek assistance in suicide.There is no such right recognised by the United Nations in any Convention.

Life is a precious gift given to us by our Creator a gift that must be guarded and protected. A gift over which we have stewardship but not dominion. Assisted suicide and doctors being permitted to kill their patients, violates justice and gives grave offence to our Creator.

At conception every human being is endowed with an inalienable right to life, it may not be taken from us, nor may we give it up.

Should the High Court consent to hear Lecretia’s petition, she will be placing in jeopardy the right to life of the elderly, the disabled and the seriously ill who do not want to be deprived of their lives. May the anticipated High Court hearing be a further impetus to our nation to ensure that every person has access to loving quality palliative care with pain control and death with dignity. There is no dignity in being killed by your doctor.

In the event of the High Court consenting to hear Lecretia’s unwise petition, Right to Life will consider seeking the High Court’s permission to make a submission in the defence of the vulnerable in our community, respectfully opposing her petition.

Ken Orr
Spokesperson,
Right to Life.

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