Posts in In the Media
NZ Herald: Canadian woman suffering from long Covid applies for assisted suicide

A Canadian woman experiencing ongoing long Covid symptoms more than two years after catching the virus has applied for voluntary euthanasia. Tracey Thompson, a Toronto resident in her 50s, told CTV News she had begun the process of applying for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), a procedure that first became legal in Canada in 2016, due to her enduring illness and lack of financial support.

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Sunday Star-Times Editor, Tracy Watkins: "we haven't earned the right to euthanasia"

By Tracy Watkins: The Ministry of Health has six full-time workers dedicated to euthanasia; none dedicated to palliative care. The fear is that it’s not a free choice at all between euthanasia and palliative care when the odds are so heavily stacked against dying patients accessing the sort of palliative care they deserve. This was my fear in 2020 when the euthanasia laws were being debated; that we hadn’t earned the right to euthanasia so long as we continued to do palliative care on the cheap. Clearly nothing has changed since then. If anything, the situation has worsened. Shame on us. We need to do better.

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The Pulse: "Harrowing": Applications for euthanasia appear to increase 50% month-on-month

By the Pulse. The Pulse host Kate Cormack interviewed Henoch Kloosterboer, spokesperson for #DefendNZ and Editor of The Defender, on the latest news around the topic of assisted suicide and euthanasia in New Zealand, including the recent screening of a biased documentary on TVNZ’s Sunday programme, as well as the dramatic increase in numbers of people seeking and going through with an assisted suicide or euthanasia death.

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Stuff.co.nz: South Canterbury support services make stand on End of Life Act

By Esther Ashby-Coventry. Anyone seeking assisted dying will not be allowed to undertake the procedure on site at Hospice South Canterbury or Highfield LifeCare in Timaru. “We will continue to strive to minimise suffering be it physical, emotional, spiritual, social or psychological. We will also continue to support families and whānau, before and after a patient’s death.”

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Local Matters: Anti-euthanasia campaigner continues fight

By James Addis. An anti-euthanasia activist who fronts the national #DefendNZ campaign says the debate on the End of Life Choice Act (EOLCA) is far from over. Henoch Kloosterboer says since the passing of the Act, advocacy for the vulnerable has become more critical than ever. “Some New Zealanders now wield the state-sanctioned legal power to deliberately end the lives of others, or to assist in their suicides,” he says.

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In the Mediawww.creed.nz
MercatorNet: Could voluntary assisted dying become contagious?

By Michael Cook. Research shows that the experience of losing a parent through suicide is a risk factor for children. How about assisted suicide and euthanasia? Does assisted dying ( euthanasia and assisted suicide) have a negative impact upon other people? It’s rare for this question to be raised in debates. If it is, supporters dismiss it – it’s my life and it’s none of their business, is their response.

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In the Mediawww.creed.nz
Stuff.co.nz: Increased funding for palliative care needed to prevent bad Millennial deaths

By Tom Hunt. Many millennials are forecast to die badly with reports of a palliative care system already struggling on dwindling fundraising and experts saying we already have a “postcode lottery” determining who dies in pain. “It is ironic that the new end-of-life-choice service is fully funded, and our hospice care funded less than 50 per cent.”

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In the Mediawww.creed.nz
Epoch Times: ‘Death Is Becoming an Industry’: Euthanasia Opponents Bemoan Rise in Medically Assisted Deaths in Canada

By Lee Harding. Recently released statistics and anecdotal accounts have caused anti-euthanasia activists increased concern, as they believe medically assisted death is not only permitted, but encouraged. Medically assisted deaths in Quebec rose to 2,426 in the year ending March 31, an increase of 37 percent over the year before.

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In the Mediawww.creed.nz
Bioedge: NSW Parliament debates ‘assisted dying’

By Michael Cook. On Friday the Parliament of NSW began its debate on the controversial bill to legalise “voluntary assisted dying”. Premier, Dominic Perrottet said, “A strong society protects and cherishes its most fragile members. This bill at its heart enshrines a new principle—that we can intentionally help terminate the lives of certain people to end their suffering. It turns on its head a bedrock of our ethics—that we help, not hurt; that we offer hope, not harm.”

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RTL UK: New Zealand: Euthanasia law comes into effect, campaigners begin “fight back” to protect the vulnerable

By Right To Life News: As New Zealand’s euthanasia legislation comes into effect, anti-euthanasia campaigners have launched an initiative to begin the path towards repealing the legislation and protecting the vulnerable. #DefendNZ has launched a new campaign to “protect” the vulnerable from the new law, and to “expose and improve” the law as it is written.

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In the Mediawww.creed.nz
Waatea News: Breath of life right to the grave

By Waatea Team. The End of Life Choice Act is now law, but a Taitokerau leader says there’s a lot of talking still needed for Māori to come to terms with the change. She says the process can make family feel left out, and challenges some firmly held tikanga. Dame Naida Glavish says consultation with Māori on the law was minimal compared with the extensive discussion that went on over the legal framework of organ donation.

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NZ Herald: Distressing death warning for 'unregulated' euthanasia drugs

By Guyon Espiner. Patients requesting euthanasia will be given unapproved, unregulated and "off label" medicines, sparking warnings of prolonged and distressing deaths. People who chose to swallow or ingest the fatal medicines, rather than taking them intravenously, would be given drugs that were compounded (mixed up) by a pharmacist and provided to the patient without being approved by regulator Medsafe.

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RNZ: Euthanasia: What happens if the drugs don't work?

By Guyon Espiner. What happens if a patient doesn't die during a euthanasia attempt? That's one of a number of ethical and legal questions being asked by palliative care experts who say we are woefully unprepared to introduce assisted dying. “Death doesn't necessarily follow within minutes or even hours, it can take a lot longer and well documented cases of stuff not working."

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RNZ: Fears euthanasia training will just be online course

By Guyon Espiner. Palliative care specialists fear health practitioners with as little as six hours online training could end up providing euthanasia for patients who would have wanted to live if they had proper care and pain relief. Their concerns come as a new Ministry of Health survey reveals fewer than a third of health practitioners are prepared to participate in the assisted dying regime.

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Otago Daily Times: Concern money used to sway doctors to euthanasia

By Mike Houlahan. An Otago doctor believes the Ministry of Health is trying to use money to entice medical professionals into offering euthanasia services. “I was shocked when, upon answering that I will not take part in assisted dying, the MoH survey offered the following question: ‘What areas would you want more information on for you to be willing to provide assisted dying services?’’”

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In the Mediawww.creed.nz
Stuff.co.nz: Where are the safeguards for Māori and the disabled in end of life law?

By Dr Huhana Hickey MNZM. In 12 months assisted dying will be legal as, unsurprisingly, the mainstream demographic has predictably spoken with a 65.2 per cent yes vote in the preliminary results. I remain opposed to this law for two reasons – those being the risk to indigenous people and the disabled, as evidenced by international research in countries where it is legal.

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In the Mediawww.creed.nz
Stuff.co.nz: Euthanasia referendum: Lawyer believes End of Life Choice Act could be 'bully’s playground'

By Richard McLeod. Although privileged New Zealanders who become terminally ill may have many other choices available to them, the law will also apply to terminally ill New Zealanders who are vulnerable and weak. For them, the “Your life your choice” mantra rings hollow. There’s no compassion in ending the life of someone who has little or no other choice.

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In the Mediawww.creed.nz
Newsroom: Assisted dying an opportunity cost

By Dr Ben Gray. The End of Life Choice Act will require significant resources which may only benefit a small number of older, educated white people, argues the University of Otago's Dr Ben Gray. “Changing the status quo now will require focus on this issue and take attention away from the much more serious issues of responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.”

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In the Mediawww.creed.nz
Stuff.co.nz: Euthanasia referendum: 'The proposed law isn't watertight'

By Grant Illingworth QC. As New Zealanders, we like the idea of having a choice. We also like the idea of showing compassion towards those who are suffering. Rightly so; but the assisted dying referendum does not involve voting about an idea; it concerns a set of rules that have already been drafted and enacted by Parliament. Those rules will come into force automatically if a majority vote in favour of them.

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In the Mediawww.creed.nz
RNZ: Referendum campaigners relieved at election delay

By Alex Perrottet. Most campaigners over the two referendums in this year's election are breathing a sigh of relief that voting day has been delayed another month, giving them time to change more minds. The two referendum topics have been subject to much debate this year, but for those most involved in the campaigning it's clearly not enough.

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In the Mediawww.creed.nz
Newshub: Euthanasia referendum: Terminal cancer patient reveals why she's against legalising assisted dying

By Patrick Gower. Vicki Walsh was told in June 2011 her brain cancer diagnosis was terminal and she only had 12 to 14 months to live. However, now aged 53, Walsh has had nine more years of life since. She says that might not have happened if the choice of assisted dying had been available and will vote against legalising euthanasia in the referendum.

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In the Mediawww.creed.nz
RNZ: End of Life Choice Bill on euthanasia goes to referendum

By Jo Moir. New Zealanders now have the casting vote on whether to make euthanasia legal. Last night Parliament voted 69 votes to 51 in favour of the End of Life Choice Bill that proposes to make assisted dying legal for some terminally ill people. After New Zealand First secured a change three weeks ago to ensure the decision would be sent to a referendum, it will not be known whether the bill becomes law until next year.

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In the Mediawww.creed.nz
Stuff.co.nz: MPs vote in favour of End of Life Choice Bill at final reading

By Henry Cooke. MPs have casted their final votes on the End of Life Choice Bill. That bill would set in motion a public vote on legalised euthanasia. "The most liberal Parliament in New Zealand's history has voted through this dangerous and permissive bill. Now the only hope of stopping euthanasia being legalised is through a referendum at the election," Maggie Barry said.

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In the Mediawww.creed.nz
Stuff.co.nz: Euthanasia bill passes second reading

By Henry Cooke. David Seymour's End of Life Choice bill has passed its second reading 70-50 and is taking legal assisted dying one step closer to becoming law. Labour and National MPs voted with their conscience on the issue, while Green and NZ First MPs all voted in support. "We cannot risk one wrong death. This bill cannot guarantee that will not happen," Agnes Loheni said.

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TVNZ 1 NEWS: Kiwi man sentenced to 8-year suspended jail for assisted suicides of three disabled people in South Africa

The 58-year-old Kiwi euthanasia advocate who appeared in a Dunedin court in 2011 charged with attempting to murder his terminally ill mother in 2006, has now pleaded guilty to three cases of assisted suicide in South Africa. He faced charges of premedited murder at the Western Cape High Court. Renée Joubert of Euthanasia-Free NZ applauded the decision today.

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Magic Talk: #DefendNZ Bioethics Professor outlines key ethical flaws with euthanasia in exclusive interview

Magic Drive with Ryan Bridge: Ryan Bridge speaks with a euthanasia expert, Professor of Bioethics, Margaret Somerville. “What we're doing here is legalising intentional killing. Now up until you've got some legislation that allows that, as you just have in Victoria, that is first degree murder! So we have to look at what happens with this – it gets normalised.”

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Newsroom: Why I changed my mind on euthanasia

By Chris Ford. Chris Ford, a former Green Party List MP Candidate, and current Green Party member explains from 'a socialist, progressive and disability rights perspective’ why he has now swung his support to the anti-euthanasia camp', now firmly in the 'no' side on the voluntary euthanasia legislation conversation.

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TVNZ 1 NEWS: Disabled after car crash and previously suicidal, woman now opposes euthanasia law change

By Janet McIntyre. Think about the most difficult conversation you could have with your parents. Claire Freeman is having it right now with her dad and our cameras are rolling. Claire is in a wheel chair after becoming a tetraplegic when she was 17. She’s made numerous attempts on her life and even made arrangements to go to Switzerland to be assisted to die.

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Stuff.co.nz: As a tetraplegic I once supported assisted suicide - but I was wrong

By Claire Freeman. The End of Life Choice Bill comes with a dark side that we cannot ignore, writes Claire Freeman. “For most of my life I've been pro assisted suicide. It was about choice, dignity, and compassion. But it's not a choice for us when we aren't treated equally, in society or within the healthcare system. It isn't a choice when we feel there are no other options.”

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Scoop: Doctors’ Open Letter Gets 1,000th Signature

Care Alliance: The ‘Doctors Say No’ Open Letter opposing euthanasia has received its 1,000th signature. Organiser Dr Sinead Donnelly, a Wellington-based Palliative Medicine specialist, says she is humbled by the response. “We started with just a very simple one-page website and it has snowballed through word of mouth and social media.”

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NZME Health Central: Watch the full debate - Bill English, David Seymour, Dr Leonie Herx, Claire Freeman talk End of Life Choice Bill in the ChalkTalks panel

Watch the full-length Health Central ChalkTalks panel debate on the End of Life Choice Bill from the ticketed and sold-out event on Wednesday 3 April 2019. Panelists included Former Prime Minister Sir Bill English, Dr Leonie Herx, Claire Freeman, David Seymour, Kerri Nuku of NZNO, and euthanasia advocate Dr Jack Havill.

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Dominion Post: End of Life Choice Bill report offers only ambiguity for MPs before second reading

By Alex Penk. After months of thought and argument, the justice select committee has thrown the End of Life Choice Bill back in Parliament's lap. We're in the strange situation where no-one, not even sponsor David Seymour, is supporting the Bill as it is. The select committee couldn't agree that the bill should pass and made only technical changes to it.

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RNZ: Euthanasia Bill 'loopholes' mean 16-year-olds could apply without parents knowledge: Lawyers, academics say

Morning Report: An open letter calling for greater scrutiny to tidy up unacceptable loopholes in the End of Life Choice Bill has been signed by 75 lawyers and academics. Grant Illingworth QC, told Morning Report he was concerned by a loophole in the bill that could mean 16-year-olds could apply for assisted dying without their parents' knowledge.

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Tagata Pasifika: Debate on End of Life Choice Bill featuring Dr Ate Moala and Togi To’o

With Marama T-Pole. This week’s talanoa (dialogue) we are joined by Dr Ate Moala. Dr Moala says, “It will be the first time in the history of Aotearoa, and will flow over to our South Pacific nations, for doctors to be allowed to legally kill their patients. And in the current constraints of the District Health Boards, New Zealand healthcare resources, a death will be cheaper.”

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Newshub: Lawyers denounce End of Life Choice Bill as 'threat to Māori'

By Sophie Bateman & Anna Bracewell-Worrall. A group of lawyers advocating for vulnerable Kiwis says David Seymour's euthanasia bill poses a serious threat to Māori. "This Bill threatens vulnerable Māori who are old, sick or disabled and who are already being failed by our health system according to a large claim currently before the Waitangi Tribunal." Dr Huhana Hickey says.

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Te Karere: ‘There is danger in this legislation’ – euthanasia Bill threat to Māori, says lawyer

Dr Huhuna Hickey. “We’ve just done a massive fundraising campaign for Mike King’s [Gumboot] campaign, and here we are now willing to bring in legal suicide basically? There is a danger in this legislation, and it comes with irreversible, irremediable, and terminal. I qualify under that, and I’ve still got a good lot of life left in me.”

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Newstalk ZB: Hundreds of Pacific Islanders rally outside Parliament against End of Life Choice Bill

Malcolm Jordan and Alex Mason. A major rally against David Seymour’s euthanasia Bill is underway in front of Parliament, with the Justice Select Committee reporting back to the house today but a group representing Pacific Island communities is against it. The group says safeguards in the Bill will not protect the most vulnerable, particularily Pacific people.

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Radio Waatea: Turia rejects assisted dying option

Former Māori Party co-leader Dame Tariana Turia says End of Life Choice Bill if passed would mark a potentially dangerous cultural and social shift in Aotearoa. Dame Tariana, whose former ministerial portfolios includes associate health and disability issues, says tikanga Māori is that death and dying are matters for the family and whānau to attend to.

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NZME: Health Central: Intense debate at panel discussion on End of Life Choice Bill includes Bill English, Dr Leonie Herx, Claire Freeman and Seymour

By Jude Barback. Last night’s Health Central ChalkTalks panel discussion on the End of Life Choice Bill raised more questions than it did answers. Panellists included Former Prime Minister Sir Bill English, Dr Leonie Herx, Claire Freeman (who features in the #DefendNZ documentary), David Seymour, Kerri Nuku of NZNO, and euthanasia advocate Dr Jack Havill.

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Waikato Times: Trust key in End of Life Bill

By Dr Conrad Engelbrecht: Anaesthetist and Pain Medicine Specialist. Waikato Hospital’s Conrad Engelbrecht wants politicians talking about policies and funding that provide patients with support. “As someone who works with people in pain every day, I can’t support the End of Life Choice Bill. It takes a vulnerable population and offers them suicide as a solution to their pain and suffering.”

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Indian Newslink: Legalising Euthanasia will have deadly effects says expert and Sir Bill English says New Zealand should not risk such a law

By Venkat Ramen. New Zealand will be wrong to choose Euthanasia since its long-term effects would be deadly, says an international expert. Dr Leonie Herx, Head of Palliative Medicine at Queen’s University, Canada said that while death is a natural process, it should not be induced through medical or any other assistance. Former Prime Minister Sir Bill English, also speaks out.

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Newstalk ZB: Majority of submissions on euthanasia bill are against legalising

Newstalk ZB: Mike Hosking interviews Dr Leonie Herx. "The largest children's hospital in Canada - the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children - has already published their guidelines on how euthanasia will occur for mature minors. It includes if the child says they don't want the parent to know, the parent will be informed the child has died after they've received euthanasia."

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NZ Herald: Ninety per cent of submissions on euthanasia bill say no to assisted dying

By Martin Johnston. More than 90 per cent of Kiwis who made submissions on the euthanasia bill want the proposed law change scrapped. The Care Alliance analysed virtually all of the more than 38,000 submissions made to Parliament's justice select committee on Act leader David Seymour's End of Life Choice Bill. It found that 90.2 per cent opposed the bill, 8.1 per cent were in favour and 1.7 per cent were neutral or unclear.

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