Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
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 introduced - The End of Life Choice Amendment Bill, a private members bill to expand the New Zealand euthanasia law in several ways.
New Zealand MP Todd Stephension has introduced - The End of Life Choice Amendment Bill, a private members 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.
It’s sad to see the ‘Slippery Slope’ spreading from Canada to New Zealand… and who knows where.
ReplyDeleteSad to say…
People do ‘Push the Envelope’!
Just for the sake of accuracy - Todd Stephenson’s Bill is a private members bill, not a government bill, and it has not been drawn from the ballot. The ballot is a random blind draw process, and if a bill is not drawn from the ballot, then it is not actually being debated or even considered by Parliament. So, at this present moment, there is no active bill before our legislative house which is attempting to expand euthanasia here.
ReplyDeleteIf the bill was to be drawn, it would then come before Parliament for three separate votes, plus a select committee consultation process before vote 1 and vote 2. If it fails any of these three voting stages then it does not become law. Also, if it is not drawn from the ballot before the end of the current term (which ends next year), then the bill dies unless the MP who put the bill into the ballot returns to Parliament, or another new MP reintroduces it to the ballot under their name.
This bill is atrocious, but is not yet live, and there is some thought that it might not even get very far if it was to be drawn now, due to the fact that next year is an election year in NZ, and political parties will not want to be associated with such a contentious issue just months before voters go to the polls.
Brendan Malone -- if Australia is anything like Canada (and we both know they are very similar), Euthanasia is an agenda item that will find its way to law - mostly because that's the plan. Whether it is this term or the next, it makes no difference.
ReplyDeleteAs a Canadian, I'm still stunned that this law has expanded at a rate that is totalitarian negligence. The laws are so vague and broad, that half the population would qualify. Of course, that is part of their plan; reduce the population via abortion (at first), then euthanasia. Make that population dependent on the government for nearly everything, then they have complete control. God help us all.