Greens MP Mike Ward supports voluntary euthanasia review

Green Party MP Mike Ward is personally calling on all New Zealanders to fully and frankly debate the sensitive topic of voluntary euthanasia.

"This is a really important issue and I believe the whole country should be discussing and reviewing it," Mr Ward said today.

"We in the Green Party will be starting dialogue to work out our policy on this fundamental issue. I acknowledge it is a conscience issue, and I have no problem with it remaining a conscience issue. I personally believe it needs to be looked at a lot more sympathetically than in the past.

"Permitting individuals to choose to die with dignity in the presence of the people they care about is very much a quality of life issue," Mr Ward said, in response to Grey Power's proposal to survey their members on the issue; which he supported.

"Our society puts a huge emphasis on keeping people alive, and while that is commendable, all too often, quality of life tends to be overlooked in the push to extend the quantity," Mr Ward said.

Mr Ward said he also supported the private member's bill on voluntary euthanasia, which he said would help open dialogue and re-examine the nation's position.

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