Opponents are running a campaign of fear, uncertainty and doubt, spreading misinformation about the bill, including some Members of Parliament who should know better and debate more honestly.
I've heard claims that the disabled, elderly, and mentally unwell will be at risk if this bill passes. This is untrue.
I've heard that my bill is so flawed there are no improvements that could ever make it safe. The Attorney-General has debunked those claims.
His report says: "The bill is tightly circumscribed in its application […] the bill cannot therefore be said to be overbroad."
This means the eligibility criteria are narrow and safeguards strict enough that the bill will not cause wrongful deaths and is consistent with the Bill of Rights Act. In fact, his one complaint was that my bill was too restrictive.
We know it can be done safely. The state of Oregon is celebrating 20 years of assisted dying and there has never been one case of malpractice. If there had been, opponents would have spread the news far and wide.
I've heard that all New Zealand needs is more palliative care for those suffering, and not assisted dying.
Palliative care alleviates suffering for many people, but not for everyone. It should be up to the person concerned who finds themselves hopelessly ill and suffering to make their choice in how they want to go, not forced to suffer on.
This bill is about choice.
I entered the End of Life Choice Bill to Parliament because New Zealanders overwhelmingly want choice. The most recent Reid Research poll showed that 71 per cent were in support of assisted dying, versus 9.5 per cent unsure, and 19.5 per cent opposed. For those who say polls aren't accurate, Reid Research predicted the 2017 election to 0.8 per cent certainty.
Support is consistent across gender, ethnicity and political party affiliation, and is even stronger among older New Zealanders who want choice in how they go.
Opponents misunderstand my bill by painting the elderly as victims. Their misplaced compassion hurts people and denies them choice.
The bill would give people with a terminal illness or a grievous and irremediable medical condition the option of requesting assisted dying. The person must be over 18, mentally competent, in an advanced state of decline and signed off by two doctors who arrive at the same prognosis independently.
It's a decision that can only be made by the person in question, and there are safeguards in place to ensure they make this decision freely, without any pressure from another person.
At present, all sorts of end of life decisions are made about treatment without these safeguards.
Resuscitations and informal euthanasia through increasing a patient's morphine dosage currently occur, but what we don't allow is the person who is suffering at the end of their life to make a choice, make their choice, safeguarded under the rule of law. My bill ensures patients' rights.
End of Life Choice Bill - Public Meeting
Tuesday, May 29 ; 5.30pm to 7.30pm
Whanganui Central Baptist Church
285 Wicksteed St, Whanganui
