Right-to-die advocates vow to fight on

By ANGELA GREGORY

Euthanasia supporters plan to become more proactive in their fight for the right of seriously ill New Zealanders to doctor-assisted suicide.

A leading advocate, Lesley Martin, said yesterday that she was determined to keep the campaign going and have euthanasia debated.

Ms Martin, who heads euthanasia lobby group Exit New Zealand, faces a charge of attempting to murder her terminally ill mother in 1999.

She was shocked the Death with Dignity Bill, which proposed a binding referendum on whether terminally ill people should be allowed to end their lives, was defeated.

Parliament tossed the bill out on Wednesday night, 60 MPs voting against it, 57 in favour and one abstaining.

The count was then adjusted yesterday after Act MP Rodney Hide told Parliament that he had mistakenly not cast a vote for his colleague Heather Roy.

He sought and received leave for her vote in favour of the bill proceeding to be recorded, the amended vote recorded as 60 against, 58 in favour and 1 abstention.

Ms Martin said while euthanasia was a personal choice issue, it should be the choice of New Zealanders in a referendum after debate on the issue.

Repeated independent polling of New Zealanders had consistently shown that nearly three-quarters supported euthanasia, she said.

"I am absolutely gutted. Parliament had an obligation to take this to select committee ... The democratic process failed."

Ms Martin said the campaigners would now become "a lot more proactive and start thinking outside the square".

She suspected the vote came too close on the heels of the prostitution legislation, which had also been a "very hot potato".

Ms Martin said she was meanwhile due to appear in court next month for depositions on the attempted murder charge.

Medical Association chairwoman Dr Tricia Briscoe said it was considered unethical among doctors around the world for them to become involved in euthanasia.

"Our job is to care, to provide comfort, not kill."

Dr Briscoe said patients should have the right to refuse treatment and access sufficient good pain relief to make them comfortable, even if that resulted in their death.

She said it was vital that the reason was to provide pain relief, not to bring on death.