NewsRoom 29 June 2018
Family First Comment: Yep
www.Protect.org.nz
Ahead of a five-part series examining submissions on the End of Life Choice Bill, Jeremy Rees takes a look at a group that argues the Bill is in no shape to be made law
The law firm which handles many doctors’ legal issues in New Zealand has told a Parliamentary select committee that David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Bill is “suboptimal” and should not proceed.
DLA Piper is retained by the Medical Protection Society to handle medical protection and indemnity work for doctors and practitioners. About 80 percent of New Zealand doctors are covered by MPS.
In a submission to the Justice select committee, the law firm says it is concerned that such an important change to New Zealand law is contained in a private member’s bill which has had no formal consultation before drafting.
“While the Bill is no doubt informed by prior public debate and clearly borrows from other jurisdictions, no formal consultation or engagement with stakeholders preceded its introduction,” it says in a submission, one of 35,000 to the committee.
Although there are a number of submissions from medical practitioners and their representative bodies, many focus on issues of wording and process. The DLA Piper submission stands out by questioning the very basis of Seymour’s Bill.
READ MORE: https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/06/28/134171/euthanasia-bill-should-not-go-ahead-law-firm
