New Zealand euthanasia expansion bill follows Canada's lead

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The New Zealand euthanasia expansion bill appears to have followed Canada's lead.

The New Zealand parliament passed a euthanasia bill in December 2019. New Zealand then had a referendum in October 2020 that supported that particular euthanasia bill with the law coming into force on November 7, 2021.

New Zealand MP Todd Stephension has now introduced - The End of Life Choice Amendment Bill to expand the New Zealand euthanasia law in several ways.

Since New Zealand citizens voted on a referendum in October 2020 that was based on specific legislation that was passed in parliament, therefore any expansions to that legislation undermine the will of the people or minimally assume that the people want the law to be expanded.

What does the New Zealand euthanasia expansion bill do? Among other things the bill:

• Amends the definition of who can do euthanasia by changing the terminology from attending medical practitioner to attending practitioner.
• Changes the terminal illness requirement to a person who has been diagnosed with a condition that is advanced, progressive, and, either on its own or in combination with 1 or more other diagnosed conditions, is expected to cause death. (Expected to cause death is not the same as a terminal illness with a 6 month prognosis).
• Eliminates conscience rights by forcing a medical practitioner to refer a person to the assisted dying service when they have received a request for assisted dying.

Sadly, it appears that the New Zealand government is following Canada's lead by expanding euthanasia to people who are not terminally ill. In fact the new definition of who qualifies to be killed can be interpreted wide enough to include most people with disabilities.

In October 2020, New Zealand voters supported euthanasia based on specific legalization legislation. The law has only been in place since November 2021 and now there is a push to expand the legislation.

This approach undermines the vote of the people. Any significant amendments, such as The End of Life Choices Amendment Bill should also go to the people for approval.