An extreme version of a very bad idea is how Matthew Jansen describes David Seymour’s “End of Life Choice Bill”. Jansen, Secretary of the Care Alliance made the comment in a media release, 12 July, launching the “Ten questions for David Seymour” campaign. The campaign, designed to prompt New Zealand Members of Parliament to give Read more
Medical treatment is guaranteed when you buy medical insurance. That’s what you think, anyway. You decide what you want or can afford and pay for it. If it comes to paying up though, your insurers might have a way out. Assisted suicide. Assisted suicide is cheaper than treatment. A Nevada-based specialist, Prof. T. Brian Callister Read more
Reacting to news that David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Bill has been drawn from the Ballot today, the New Zealand Catholic Bioethics Centre argues it will undermine the life choices for many should it become law. “We have grave concerns about the unintended consequences of the proposed legislation”, warns Director of The Nathaniel Centre Read more
More than 30 of Australia and New Zealand’s top palliative care practitioners have joined forces to oppose the introduction of euthanasia and physician assisted suicide, describing the practice as “unnecessary and unsafe”. It was a response to an opinion piece recently published in the MJA by Palliative Care Specialist, Professor Emeritus Ian Maddocks, who asked Read more
Hawaii’s Senate supports an assisted suicide bill. This is despite Hawaiian Catholic Conference warnings it could put vulnerable people at risk. The Conference says it could also change the nature of medicine. “Physicians are seen as trusted health advisors, and this bill undermines this relationship, creating suspicion and uncertainty for Hawaii’s patients,” said Deacon Walter Read more
Cardinal Dew spoke on behalf of the bishops of New Zealand to the written Submission to the Health Select Committee on their End of Life investigation at Parliament on Wednesday. “Catholic teaching regarding the end of life is well known, however we would like to share with you our extensive and long experience of our Read more
Director of the NZ Catholic Bioethics Centre, Dr John Kleinsman, commenting on MP Louisa Wall’s proposed Authorised Dying Bill, noted that it was an attempt to narrow the criteria of eligibility for euthanasia and assisted suicide. It shows that at one level she has taken on board some of the concerns raised by opponents of Read more
Act leader, David Seymour, who has a member’s bill in the ballot to legalise voluntary euthanasia, is opposed to a conscience vote on the matter. He calls it a “little wrinkle in our political system that allows a small amount of people to veto a large amount of people.” “I do think that’s undemocratic and Read more
Cheap assisted suicide drugs were offered to a mother of four instead of chemotherapy. The Californian woman – Stephanie Packer – has a terminal illness and her insurance company denied coverage for the chemotherapy her doctors recommended. Instead, it would cover end-of-life drugs for just $1.20. The insurance company initially said they would cover the Read more
Archbishop Desmond Tutu wants the option of an assisted death. The Anglican Church – of which Mr Tutu is a member – is against assisted dying. The South African Nobel Peace Prize laureate, social rights activist and retired Anglican bishop rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid. Writing in the Read more