· We have continued to network and build links, laying a foundation. You will see the further outcome of this in early 2025.
· We have encouraged the development of a euthanasia section in the Humanists for Life NZ website: (www.humanistsforlife.nz)
Our Rationale
* We will of course continue to oppose extension of the Act until it is repealed, and we will continue to advocate for valuing life and critiquing legalisation. However we do not want legalisation to be socially entrenched or ‘normalised’. Thus we call for Repeal, and the law revert to what it was. We do not want to be reduced to only arguing over the details of the current law or how it is applied.
Tanya Unkovich MP
* We were pleased to hear of MP Tanya Unkovich’s private member’s Bill seeking improved funding for hospices. This is a vital and practical way of supporting people through the dying process. It deserves our support.
Language – let’s not use the term ‘Assisted Dying’
We sometimes use the term ‘euthanasia’ to include assisted suicide, although they are distinct processes. Strictly speaking, euthanasia involves another person killing someone (usually by administering poisons) and assisted suicide involves helping a person kill themselves (usually by providing poisons for people to kill themselves).
Stolen Language
The End of Life Choice Act (EOLC Act) stole the language of true hospice care (which assists people in the death process, seeking to neither hasten nor delay death). The stolen language which the Act uses, are the words ‘assisted dying’ but the EOLC Act means killing rather than what true hospice care does.
We can push back on this stealing of language by not using our opponents’ words – instead we can call euthanasia what it is.
Significant developments by our opponents
In 2024, Todd Stephenson, an Act MP, put forward an Amendment Bill to extend the reach of the End of Life Choice Act. This Amendment Bill would amend Section 5 (of the current EOLC Act) which lists criteria for people to be eligible for euthanasia. The present Section 5 (1) (c) reads suffers from a terminal illness that is likely to end the person’s life within 6 months The proposed amendment would delete the words ‘within 6 months’.
You can see that this opens up a ‘Pandora’s Box’, including for people who may well have a condition that can be controlled, but would otherwise (eg without treatment or without medication) be likely to kill them at some stage, even if it were when they reach 100 years old!
Evidence suggests that the opportunity to be killed tends to lead to pressure to be killed.
Our Opponents Gather
There has already been talk of adding to Todd Stephenson’s Bill, especially proposing taking away medical professionals’ already limited conscience rights not to participate in nor facilitate euthanasia (EOLC Act Sections 8 & 9). There is also talk of taking away the provision restricting doctors from raising the topic of euthanasia with a patient (EOLC Act Section 10).
There are other proposals talked of as well, adding further dangers to an already dangerous law. There is talk, for example, of forcing hospices and care facilities to allow euthanasia on their premises.
Pro-euthanasia people seem to be following the Canada playbook, where for example, there is a process under way to extend eligibility to mental illness alone, even for physically healthy people.
Specific Aims:
The 2021 AGM of Euthanasia-Free NZ, which supports the Euthanasia Repeal Alliance in its work and is a member, adopted these aims, and they are relevant and important for all of us:
· To promote support for effective hospice care, including building public confidence, eg any desires expressed for Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide (EAS) usually fall away when good hospice care is received.
· To promote support for community-building opportunities that counteract loneliness, isolation or hopelessness among people of all ages and conditions, among the young as well as older people.
· To maintain and build social and political opposition to the new EAS law, so that it does not become entrenched or ‘normalised’.
Some Useful Links
October 2024
13 December 2024
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I hope you have found this ERA Update Bulletin useful. Please feel welcome to forward it anywhere you consider appropriate
Attached for your information and reference is a copy of the Repeal flyer and a copy of the ERA Constitution.
There is no joining fee or sub to belong to the Euthanasia Repeal Alliance, and both individuals and organisations can join. All that is needed to join is the expression of a wish to do so and a means of contact, preferably an email address.
Kind regards and best wishes for 2025
Richard Harward
Convenor
Euthanasia Repeal Alliance
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