By Dave Andrusko
Dr. Jane Silloway Smith, Director of Every Life Research Unit, has analysed a random sampling of the 20,576 submissions made public by the Health Select Committee thus far and found that 78% of submitters are against legalising assisted suicide, while 22% are in favor of changing the law.
“Submitters to the Health Select Committee have overwhelmingly expressed their opposition to assisted suicide,” comments Dr.Smith. “The very clear ratio against a change in the current law alongside the high number of total submissions shows that there is a strong public political will opposed to assisted suicide.”
Euthanasia-Free NZ welcomed the analysis.
“It’s premature and defeatist to suggest that state-sanctioned suicide is the best the government can offer to address the suffering that some New Zealanders experience,” says Renée Joubert, Executive Officer of Euthanasia-Free NZ. “The causes of suffering are complex and a range of possible solutions need to be examined, including better accessibility to existing physical and psychological care options.”
“The legalisation of assisted suicide would affect society as a whole, including people who would prefer to die of natural causes. Emotionally vulnerable people could easily feel pressured to request death, making legal assisted suicide the ultimate vehicle for elder and relationship abuse.”
Euthanasia-Free NZ supports the call for David Seymour to withdraw his untimely End of Life Choice Bill from the ballot and allow the current Health Select Committee investigation to run its course.