When is the right time to die? Interviews with terminal ill NZers MAY 8, 2020 Updated 3 hours ago Jessica Young Jessica Young is a PhD candidate in the Department of General Practice and Rural Health at the University of Otago. Show more Ideasroom The University of Otago's Jessica Young interviewed 14 terminally ill people who would have considered choosing assisted dying if it were available, about what a good death meant for them. Covid-19 has brought death to the forefront of our minds and prompted us to think about what a good death is in these new circumstances. Until now, most people haven’t been confronted with their own mortality much, despite death being the common denominator that unites all living beings. New Zealanders are going to vote whether to ratify the End of Life Choice Act at the election. One of the major concerns with assisted dying is that people who have chosen to die may have gone on to live longer or change their minds about dying at that time.
Newshub poll: Most New Zealanders support euthanasia The Bill passed its first reading in December through a conscience vote - 76 MPs voted in favour and 44 voted against. The Bill argues some people are suffering unbearably at the end of their lives, and allows adults suffering from a terminal or irremediable illness to ask for a medically assisted death. It's currently being examined by Parliament's Justice Select Committee, which is due to report back to the House in September. Under the End of Life Choice Bill, a person wishing to end their own life must meet all of the following criteria: be 18 or oldersuffer from a terminal or grievous and irremediable illnessor be in an advanced state of irreversible declinebe in unbearable pain that can't be helped by medicationbe of sound mind to give consent If those criteria are met, the applicant must be assessed by two doctors. Assisted-dying legislation has been debated in Parliament twice before, first in 1995 and then in 2003. It was defeated at the first reading both times. Newshub.
Euthanasia: What's done around the world Twins. Both deaf. Both facing the onset of blindness. Belgian brothers Marc and Eddy Verbessem lived together and shared a special sign language known only to themselves and their family. Terrified of never being able to see each other again and facing what family members called intolerable suffering, the twins opted instead to end their lives through euthanasia. The 45-year-olds died together in 2013, after a lethal injection administered at Brussels University Hospital. READ MORE: * Euthanasia debate * We should offer euthanasia to those who want it * Should Kiwis have the right to die with 'dignity'? Nathan Verhelst, 44, took the same option, after a sex-change operation that went wrong left him experiencing "unbearable psychological suffering". He regarded himself as a "monster" after "my breasts did not match my expectations and my new penis had symptoms of rejection". Parliament voted 76-44 to send the bill through for its first reading. Opponents disagree. Dr John Kleinsman agrees.
Assisted dying's risk of coercion Euthanasia In the second of five articles analysing public submissions on the proposed euthanasia law, Jeremy Rees examines worries about families coercing people to end their lives. Would families pressure a loved one suffering a terminal disease into taking their lives if euthanasia becomes legal? “I believe that this law change will be putting vulnerable patients at risk,” Auckland GP, Gisa George says. “I am worried about the strain this would put on our elderly. Often the elderly feel isolated and vulnerable. It is one of the most commonly expressed worries and most vexing questions among the submissions to Parliament Justice select committee on David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Bill. One of the striking features of the submissions is the differing views of families - some see them as the centre of support for a dying person, others as the single biggest risk. One palliative care worker described how she sees the best and the worst of families. “...
Anglican Taonga : New Zealand's Anglican News Leader Eight Anglican bishops have called for a halt to the End of Life Choice Bill, which proposes legalising medically-assisted suicide and euthanasia in Aotearoa New Zealand. In their submission to the Justice Select Committee on David Seymour's End of Life Choice Bill this week, the bishops recommended no change to existing laws, and called for more funding of palliative care and counselling support for patients and their whanau. Better end of life care and psycho-social support Rather than introducing assisted dying as proposed in the Bill, the bishops believe our government should ensure New Zealanders have access to the best quality palliative and psycho-social care when faced with terminal illness. They cite Australian doctor Karen Hitchcock who in her 12 years of work in large public hospitals has often heard patients express a wish to die, but says the cause of that desire is seldom physical pain, One bishop's view from the bedside "But the matter of intention makes a big difference.
Religious Groups’ Views on End-of-Life Issues In the following summaries, religious leaders, scholars and ethicists from 16 major American religious groups explain how their faith traditions’ teachings address physician-assisted suicide, euthanasia and other end-of-life questions. (For an in-depth look at public opinion on end-of-life issues, see “Views on End-of-Life Medical Treatments.” And for an overview of the political, legal and ethical dimensions of the end-of-life debate, see “To End Our Days.”) Assemblies of God The Assemblies of God, the largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States, opposes physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. At the same time, the church allows that life need not be sustained at all costs when there is no hope for recovery. For more information: Assemblies of God statement. Buddhism According to Damien Keown, emeritus professor of Buddhist ethics at Goldsmiths College, University of London, Buddhists generally oppose assisted suicide and euthanasia. For more information: Keown, D. 2005.
The pros and cons of legalising assisted dying It emerged in January that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is also considering revising its stance on so-called mercy killings so that defendants are less likely to face criminal charges. “We are not decriminalising any offence,” Director of Public Prosecutions Max Hill told the i news site, but in offences “born solely out of compassion”, justice can sometimes “be achieved by not prosecuting”. The range of potential motives and circumstances required “more nuanced” guidance, he said. “At one end of that spectrum, these are cases of murder – when you take somebody else’s life, it may not be at the victim’s time of choosing and they may not have reached a point, even if they’re sick, of deciding that they want their life to end. “But at the other end of the spectrum, nobody wants to see a devoted husband or wife charged and going to court.” Prosecutions of such cases have previously had mixed results.
Euthanasia — Voice For Life Over 200 lawyers, including Queen’s Counsel, human rights lawyers and disability lawyers, have meticulously combed through this piece of legislation. They have discovered many fatal flaws which have led them to unanimously agree that this law poses far too many dangers to vulnerable Kiwis. It is good to keep in mind that even many lawyers who are not necessarily opposed to euthanasia in principle, are vehemently against this particular, dangerous piece of legislation that is being offered up to New Zealanders. It becomes a huge issue when it is suddenly legal for a person to intentionally kill another person. This is a lawyer’s worst nightmare as it is often difficult, in some cases impossible, to detect pressure. Another problem is that the nature of this law almost guarantees that it’s application will change, and the eligibility criteria will progressively widen over time. Hospices and rest homes could face challenges around conscientious objection.