Stuff co.nz 8 April 2019
Family First Comment: “Now understanding it was the depression that is a natural bedfellow for terminal illness that made her ever think it was a good idea to hasten her death, she is making a last-ditch plea to stop the End of Life Choice Bill progressing.”
www.Protect.org.nz
Tokomaru woman Vicki Walsh has well and truly out-lived her life insurance payout.
Diagnosed with the brain cancer glioblastoma multiforme nearly eight years ago, the prognosis was that she would be dead in 12 to 148 months.
She nearly was.
Not from the cancer, but by her own hand.
She had the pills laid out on the kitchen bench, ready to end the suffering, but changed her mind over a cup of tea.
Now understanding it was the depression that is a natural bedfellow for terminal illness that made her ever think it was a good idea to hasten her death, she is making a last-ditch plea to stop the End of Life Choice Bill progressing.
On Tuesday, the day Parliament’s Justice Committee is due to report back ahead of a likely vote on May 1, the DefendNZ lobby group’s documentary about her remarkable survival will be released.
Called Terminal but not dead yet, Walsh’s story explains her fear that the change of law would make vulnerable ill and disabled people feel worthless, selfish for continuing to be “a burden” and pressured to ask someone to end their lives.
READ MORE: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/111835457/choosing-life-despite-a-terminal-diagnosis
