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

 

#DefendNZ representatives arrive in Wellington

Tuesday 21 May 2019

#DefendNZ representatives arrive in Wellington to advocate for vulnerable ahead of possible Second Reading of End of Life Choice Bill on 22 May

We all have a stake in the End of Life Choice Bill conversation, but for some people, this Bill is more than a thought experiment – it is a clear and present danger. For this reason, some of the people featured in the #DefendNZ documentaries are in the Capital to make themselves available to speak personally with MPs and media.

Included in the contingent is Palmerston North’s Vicki Walsh, who has an advanced form of the same brain tumour that Lecretia Seales was diagnosed with in 2011. Walsh continues to outlive her prognosis. She was given a maximum of 12-14 months and is still alive eight years later. Exposed to high-profile cases of others seeking euthanasia or assisted suicide, she has felt extremely vulnerable – like she was being selfish by not ending her life. Laws send messages, and they have an impact beyond those who campaign for them. Vicki doesn’t want the law telling her that her life is of lesser value. She tells her story at www.defendnz.co.nz/vicki.

Also present is Hamilton’s Kylee Black. Black has a rare connective tissue disorder that is incurable and life-threatening. She qualifies under the Bill before government. Kylee hears a lot of people talk about how the Bill gives you a “choice”. But from her experience of living with a serious medical condition, choice is a relative term. When you live your life heavily reliant on other people and require costly treatments to be kept alive, having the legal option to end your life could make you feel pressure to take up the offer. You can hear her story at www.defendnz.co.nz/kylee.

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.

Lastly present are mother and daughter duo, Heather and Rachel Major, who lost husband and father Glenn Major to a terminal brain tumour. Hospice and his doctors gave Glenn six months to live three times over a period of nearly nine years – the first time when daughter Rachel was 18 months old. Prognosis cannot only be a little off, it can be flat out wrong. Glenn died when Rachel was nine years old. Would euthanasia have been legal, Glenn could have ended his life with years still left ahead of him. He would have missed out on so much, as would his wife and young daughter. Rachel, now 16 years old, is advocating for other children and young people that are in a similar position. Their story is told at www.defendnz.co.nz/glenn

Their message is that we must give voice to those who would be most affected by this Bill. That we must examine carefully the experiences of euthanasia and assisted suicide regimes overseas. That together, we all must #DefendNZ.

Walsh, Black and the Major’s are available to meet with MPs and media. This comes ahead of the possible Second Reading of the Bill on Wednesday 22 May. As a nation we will measured by how we treat our most vulnerable members. Putting them at risk is not who we are. Local and international experts tell us euthanasia laws aren’t safe.

ENDS


© Scoop Media

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



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... 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.