When Killing comes Disguised as “Medical Aid in Dying”

When Killing comes Disguised as “Medical Aid in Dying”

Right to Life Media Release June 7th 2016

Right to Life believes that through his Private Members, “End of Life Choice” bill, Act Leader David Seymour with support from the Voluntary Euthanasia Society, is in fact promoting and normalising suicide as an acceptable solution when life becomes difficult. Should Seymour’s bill be drawn there may be great danger. Right to Life believes that many of our sitting MP’s have little understanding of the implications inherent in the changing of our laws relating to culpable homicide. Should Parliament unwisely legislate to pay doctors to assist in the suicide of their patients, then there will be no turning back. Such measures would ultimately be irretrievably enforced.

The Chief Coroner reported in 2015, that there were 564 suicides reported in New Zealand for the 2014/2015 year. This is the greatest number of suicides reported since statistics have been kept. Tragically New Zealand has one of the highest youth suicide rates in the developed world. Former Chief Coroner Neil MacLean recently stated that he believes that the true rate of suicide could be much higher.

It is illegal to ‘aid and abet suicide‘ under Section 179 of the New Zealand Crimes Act 1961.[1] The clauses of this act make it an offence to ‘incite, procure or counsel’ and ‘aid and abet’ someone else to commit suicide, regardless of whether a suicide attempt is made or not. (Note the section does not distinguish between assisted suicide and true suicide). On conviction a defendant may be sentenced to up to 14 years in prison.

The Dutch Parliament in 2002, when passing the “Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide [Review Procedures] Act”, was under no illusions that it was authorising doctors to kill their patients by assisting in their suicide. The Act states that, it requires that the physician “has terminated a life or assisted suicide with due care.” [Chapter II, Article 2, 1,f.]

This requirement – that the procedure be carried out in a medically appropriate fashion – transforms the crimes of homicide and assisted suicide into medical treatments.

Those advocating assisted suicide in New Zealand with the cooperation of the media are now seeking to deny that they are promoting doctors killing their patients or assisting in their suicide by changing the language and using the euphemistic term “medical aid in dying” -(MAD). This is a blatant falsehood, that is intended to mislead and deceive the public. Right to Life believe the public would quickly withdraw their support, if they realised that they were advocating killing the most vulnerable members in our community, the aged, the disabled and the seriously ill.

The Voluntary Euthanasia Society NZ recently advised Right to Life that we were mischievous in talking about killing They admitted that doctor assisted dying was their term for “rational suicide.” David Seymour MP, sponsor of the highly contentious ‘End of Life Choice” bill recently advised our Society that “doctor assisted dying” was not suicide. What is going on here? It is either suicide (whether it be ‘rational’ or not ) or it is not. Which is it Mr Seymour?

Right to Life believes that David Seymour, the VESNZ and the media should stop misleading the public with euphemistic language. “Medical aid in dying” is ultimately going to result in the empowering of the strong to kill the weak.

ENDS

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