Overwhelming Opposition to Euthanasia in New Zealand

Media Release 13th August 2016

Right to Life welcomes the news that an analysis of the submissions reveals, 78 per cent of submissions to the Parliamentary Health Select Committee were opposed to the law being changed to allow doctors to kill their patients or assist in their suicide.

The Committee reported a total of 21,435 submissions received. This was an unprecedented number in the history of the New Zealand Parliament. The number reflects the deep concern and opposition to the Crimes Act being changed to allow doctors to kill their patients. The community wants a conversation not about killing, but caring for patients and the disabled.

Right to Life requests that in view of the overwhelming opposition to a law change to allow doctors to kill their patients or assist in their suicide, David Seymour withdraw his Private Members End of Life Choice Bill from the ballot. That Labour Party leader Andrew Little, rejects a separate End of Life Choice bill sponsored by Maryan Street and that the Prime Minister John Key publicly withdraws his support for euthanasia.

Right to Life’s request of David Seymour will allow the Health Select Committee to complete its deliberations and to report back to Parliament. Leaving this noxious bill in the ballot is contemptuous of Parliament and the electorate. The bill is euphemistically titled “End of Life Choice Bill”. The bill under the disguise of compassion is a serious threat to the lives of the most vulnerable members of our community; the aged, the disabled and the seriously ill. It has no place in our Parliament. Furthermore It is not the role of Parliament to legislate who shall be killed and who should be allowed to live.

Right to Life also now requests Andrew Little, to acknowledge the overwhelming opposition to euthanasia in New Zealand. He should now act in the interest of the common good and in the best interest of the Labour Party by publicly repudiates Streets End of Life Choice bill and pledging never to allow such a bill that empowers the strong to kill the weak to sully our Parliament ever again.

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