Interchurch Bioethics Council - CathNews New Zealand https://cathnews.co.nz Catholic News New Zealand Tue, 02 Feb 2016 01:50:05 +0000 en-NZ hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://cathnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/cropped-cathnewsfavicon-32x32.jpg Interchurch Bioethics Council - CathNews New Zealand https://cathnews.co.nz 32 32 70145804 Ecumenical advisory council opposes physician assisted suicide https://cathnews.co.nz/2016/02/02/nz-churches-oppose-physician-assisted-suicide/ Mon, 01 Feb 2016 16:00:07 +0000 http://cathnews.co.nz/?p=80061

An ecumenical body comprising the Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian churches of New Zealand is stressing its opposition to the introduction of "physician assisted suicide." The ecumenical body advises the churches on the "spiritual, ethical and cultural issues connected to biotechnology and related issues". In making its submission to the Health Select Committee, the InterChurch Bioethics Council (ICBC), accepted that Read more

Ecumenical advisory council opposes physician assisted suicide... Read more]]> An ecumenical body comprising the Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian churches of New Zealand is stressing its opposition to the introduction of "physician assisted suicide."

The ecumenical body advises the churches on the "spiritual, ethical and cultural issues connected to biotechnology and related issues".

In making its submission to the Health Select Committee, the InterChurch Bioethics Council (ICBC), accepted that its views were not shared by all members of its constituent denominations.

However, it said that "as a designated committee, we are providing our ‘expert' opinion following our own discussions, research and reading over the past three years and some limited wider consultation."

The ICBC criticised the Health Select Committee for considering the "social, legal, medical, cultural, financial, ethical, and philosophical implications" of such a move; saying that they "have negated (sic) to include spiritual considerations which are also part of current legislation guidelines."

In addition, the ICBC challenged the phrase "physician assisted dying" that had been used in the debate.

The ecumenical body says that the phrase was "inadequate" because it "confuses scenarios where the intention of the physician is actively to cause death with those where the intention is to relieve suffering.

The ICBC said that "the right to self-determination does not take place in a vacuum - no-one is completely free, we are embedded in family and society involving critical relationships, including a debt to future generations.

"Our personal freedom is always held alongside the rights of others, and from a Christian perspective, our personal rights have to be considered alongside our responsibilities to others that reflect our love of God as indicated in the command to love both God and neighbour (Mark 12:28-32)."

"In the face of suffering, the Christian and humane response is to maximise care/compassion for those in most need. However killing is not a part of the arsenal of care/compassion for the dying."

They continue: "A change in the law to permit physician assisted suicide would cross a fundamental legal and ethical boundary, since the respect for the lives of others goes to the heart of both our criminal and human rights laws and ought not to be abandoned."

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Ecumenical advisory council opposes physician assisted suicide]]> 80061 Drafting of private member's bill on euthanasia renews debate https://cathnews.co.nz/2012/03/30/drafting-of-private-members-bill-on-euthanasia-renews-debate/ Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:30:25 +0000 http://cathnews.co.nz/?p=22095

Euthanasia is ethically wrong, and individuals could be placed under more pressure from family members to choose an "early exit" if a new bill goes ahead, say the Salvation Army and the InterChurch Bioethics Council. Both groups have come out against a proposed "end of life choice" member's bill being drafted by Nelson-based Labour list Read more

Drafting of private member's bill on euthanasia renews debate... Read more]]> Euthanasia is ethically wrong, and individuals could be placed under more pressure from family members to choose an "early exit" if a new bill goes ahead, say the Salvation Army and the InterChurch Bioethics Council.

Both groups have come out against a proposed "end of life choice" member's bill being drafted by Nelson-based Labour list MP Maryan Street.

Street says a growing number of New Zealanders support euthanasia and a fresh national discussion is needed on the subject.

The bill would make it legal for those diagnosed as terminally ill, and fully in control of their mental faculties, to choose to die, and for assisting clinicians or family members to be protected from liability.

 

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Drafting of private member's bill on euthanasia renews debate]]> 22095