TVNZ One News 16 August 2018
Family First Comment: Sir Bill also spoke about youth suicide and the “hypocrisy” the bill could create. “I’ve seen youth suicide upfront. Young people have a nose for adult hypocrisy. How can we say to them, it’s a bad thing for a young person to think about taking their life, but a great, progressive thing for a sick old person to think about taking their lives?”
Exactly
www.protect.org.nz
Submissions were heard today from Sir Bill English, Dr Mary English and advocate Matt Vickers, on the opposing views of the proposed euthanasia legalisation.
Sir Bill spoke on his opposition to the bill, saying legalising euthanasia could allow, in some circumstances, people to “be able to kill and be exempt from the law”.
Matt Vickers described how for a person who was experiencing “extreme pain, despite their doctor’s best efforts, it might offer a true respite”.
ACT leader David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Bill is currently sitting in the Select Committee stage, after passing its first reading last year.
Sir Bill said the test for consent “was far too low”, and that “safeguards mean nothing if there are no consequences for breaking them”.
“In this bill there are no consequences. That is the track record of the jurisdictions around the world.”
“In effect the law asks us to look the other way. This bill is about all of us, not just those who choose euthanasia,” he told the Justice Select Committee.
READ MORE: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/in-bill-there-no-consequences-sir-english-speaks-against-proposed-euthanasia-legislation-supporter-matt-vickers-wants-restrictions
