ACT wants to expand euthanasia but this would breach fundamental human rights in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act.
“ACT’s changes breach human rights and take away freedom of choice,” says Alex Penk, author of a new report for MPs on the End of Life Choice Amendment Bill. “The Bill would stop doctors and care facilities like hospices from using their conscience and making ethical decisions like they do now.”
“Assisted dying is already highly controversial and most doctors don’t want to be involved,” says Penk. “The Bill would introduce euthanasia for long-term conditions and disabilities, like chronic heart conditions, frailty, diabetes, renal failure, multiple sclerosis, and motor neurone disease. This would force doctors and care facilities into more conscience conflicts. Doctors have to use ethical judgment all the time but the Bill sends a message that they’re just supposed to do what the state tells them. There’s a real risk it’ll force ethically-minded people out of medicine.”
“ACT’s bill would also undermine palliative care. It would cover ‘care facilities’ including hospices, disability support facilities, and rest homes. Care facilities would have to be prepared to allow assisted dying even when that goes against their beliefs. Facilities like hospices do an incredible job for vulnerable people but they’re over-stretched and under-funded. They shouldn’t be backed into a corner if they don’t want to be involved in euthanising their residents.”
“This is not what Kiwis voted for,” says Mr Penk. “David Seymour said that conscience is a cornerstone of the law, and 65 percent of voters supported that law in a referendum. There is no mandate to change such a fundamental part of the law. Let individual doctors and care facilities decide if they want to offer assisted dying, or the government could just do a better job of providing information.”
“It’s ironic that a law about end of life choice would limit freedom of choice,” says Penk. “MPs will get a conscience vote if the Bill goes before Parliament. Why shouldn’t doctors and care facilities get to use their conscience too?”
