Seymour Struggling to Save his Contentious Euthanasia Bill

Members of Parliament should not be seduced by David Seymour’s proposed ammendments to his euthanasia bill. Right to Life contends that David Seymour knew from the outset that in order to get any Euthanasia bill across the line he had to ‘shoot for the stars’ in order to ‘get to the moon’. He knows that once any Euthanasia bill is enacted in Parliament, then it will be only a matter of time before the criteria for those eligible for euthansia death will be widened. There has always been the danger to the vulnerable inherent in any change to our current Crimes Act legislation. Man is a pragmatic creature and in an increasingly secular society, that has no foundation of objective morality, pragmatic measures will soon see safeguards eroded, with an ever widening class of persons eligible to be killed by a ‘doctor’.

David Seymour made the astounding statement on TV One News tonight (Thursday 13th December), that following his proposed ammendments, there was now no reason that the Hon Maggie Barry – who has recently submitted a Private Members palliative care bill to the ballot – should not support his bill. Such a statement shows a complete lack of understanding of why she and others oppose any euthansia bill, which permits doctors to kill their patients.

Right to Life commends Members of Parliament for protecting the vulnerable in our community by opposing his End of Life Choice bill currently with the Justice Select Committee. They are encouraged to avoid being enticed to support this bill by the seductive amendments now being proposed.

Right to Life is delighted that David Seymour has now recognised that the majority of Members of Parliament are opposed to his EOLCB and that his bill will suffer an ignoble defeat at its second reading in March. This bill is poorly drafted and is a threat to the most vulnerable members of our community, the aged, the disabled and the seriously ill.

David Seymour should also recognise that the majority of New Zealanders are fiercely opposed to his contentious bill. A careful analysis of the more than 36,000 written submissions to the Justice Committee is being conducted by the Care Alliance This undertaking is not complete but to date it reveals that 92 per cent are opposed to the bill. The Justice Committee has a moral obligation to finalise its report back to Parliament reflecting the overwhelming opposition to this dangerous bill expressed by the public in their submissions.

David Seymour is desperate to save his bill and is now proposing three amendments:

For Parliament to allow doctors to kill only those in a terminal condition or to assist in their suicide and to exclude patients who have a mental health condition.

To include support for the Palliative Care bill of the Hon, Maggie Barry.

David Seymour does not understand that the bill is fundamentally flawed because it undermines the total prohibition against the taking of innocent human life, which is the foundation of the law and medicine.

There is no amendment that can be made to this bill that will make it acceptable.

Right to Life earnestly requests that the media which should be at the service of the community, now withdraw support for this dangerous bill. The media have an important role in protecting our community by upholding and defending the prohibition of the medical profession to care for their patients and not to kill them.

Ken Orr
Spokesperson,
Right to Life

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