Suicide bill 'breaches law'

Legislation to let dying people end their lives breaches the Bill of Rights Act, says Attorney-General Margaret Wilson.

The Death with Dignity Bill would allow terminally or incurably ill people to seek help from a medically qualified person to die.

They would also be able to appoint a person to represent them if they became mentally incompetent.

Ms Wilson said yesterday that after considering the bill, she had concluded it was inconsistent with provisions in the Bill of Rights Act relating to "the right not to be deprived of life and the right to freedom of expression".

Ms Wilson said the provision for appointing a representative did not ensure that a person who did so "has understood the nature of the document he or she signed and the consequences of his or her decision".

"There is no mandatory requirement for the person to consult with a psychiatrist or undergo counselling."

The bill also appeared to be inconsistent with section 14 of the Bill of Rights Act relating to the right to freedom of expression.

- NZPA