Euthanasia in New Zealand

Last updated

Euthanasia became legal in New Zealand when the End of Life Choice Act 2019 took full effect on 7 November 2021. It is illegal to "aid and abet suicide" under Section 179 of the New Zealand Crimes Act 1961. [1] The clauses of this act make it an offence to "incite, procure or counsel" and "aid and abet" someone else to commit suicide, regardless of whether a suicide attempt is made or not. Section 179 covers both coercion to undertake assisted suicide and true suicide, such as that caused by bullying. This will not change under the End of Life Choices Act 2019, which has provisions on coercion of terminally ill people.

Contents

The controversial book The Peaceful Pill Handbook describing how to perform euthanasia was initially banned in New Zealand. Since May 2008 it has been allowed for sale to readers over eighteen years of age, if it is sealed and an indication of the censorship classification is displayed. In addition, author Philip Nitschke excised a section that dealt specifically with methods of suicide, which might otherwise have fallen afoul of Section 179. [2]

The End of Life Choice Bill passed in parliament 69–51 in November 2019. [3] The matter was decided at a binding referendum held alongside the 2020 general election, with the electorate voting in favour of legalisation. [4] The legislation took effect one year after the official declaration of the referendum result, on 7 November 2021. [5] [6]

Advance directive

Patients are able to withhold treatment if it may shorten their life and advance directives are recognised by law.

Right 7 of the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights states: [7]

"5) Every consumer may use an advance directive in accordance with the common law."
"7) Every consumer has the right to refuse services and to withdraw consent to services."

This code is enshrined in law under the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994.

The New Zealand Medical Association oppose voluntary euthanasia and doctor assisted suicide maintaining that it is unethical to place a burden on the doctors performing the procedure, regardless of whether the patient or relatives wishes to have it carried out. [8]

Public opinion

2020 New Zealand euthanasia referendum Result Map 2020 New Zealand euthanasia referendum results.svg
2020 New Zealand euthanasia referendum Result Map

A survey done by Massey University in 2003 showed that 73% wanted assisted suicide legalised if it was performed by a doctor, but if done by others support dropped to 49%. The wording of the questions were:

"Suppose a person has a painful incurable disease. Do you think that doctors should be allowed by law to end the patient’s life if the patient requests it?"
"Still thinking of that person with a painful incurable disease. Do you think that someone else, like a close relative, should be allowed by law to help end the patient’s life, if the patient requests it?" [9]

A survey carried out on behalf of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society in 2008 showed that 71% of New Zealanders want to have it legalised. [10] The question read:

"In some countries, though not all, if you have an illness that results in your being unable to have an acceptable quality of life, you are legally allowed to get help from a doctor to help you to die. If you had an illness or condition which resulted in your having a quality of life that was totally unacceptable to you, would you like to have the legal right to choose a medically assisted death?" [11]

The 2008 survey by Massey University gave similar results. [11]

In 2015 a 3 News/Reid Research poll showed 71% want the law changed with 24% opposed. [12]

Stance by religious organisations

The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, part of the Anglican Communion is, the second largest church in New Zealand. [13] On 1 February 2016, nine bishops made an oral submission to the Health Select Committee concerning medically assisted dying and Maryan Street's petition. In this submission they reiterated the importance of protecting human life and in conclusion made these three points:

  1. New Zealand should not enact legislation that would establish medically-assisted dying as an authorised form of terminating life, thus undermining a fundamental ethical principle.
  2. We should take steps to increase resources for palliative care, and the provision of social support for the lonely, ageing and depressed.
  3. We should enhance support for families caring for those with terminal illnesses to assist them in understanding what is happening and likely to happen, how to manage stress and grief, and how to build positive relationships with the dying, remembering that dying can be an important last phase of life in resolving conflicts of the past and establishing new relationships of love and care. [14]

The Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand, the largest Christian denomination in New Zealand, [13] is broadly opposed to legalising euthanasia/physician assisted suicide. There are several reasons put forth by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Bioethics Agency, The Nathaniel Centre, against legalising euthanasia/physician assisted suicide. Firstly, safeguards such as limiting of access to a narrow group of people will not eliminate the possibility of abuses occurring. They say that it is inevitable that when following a liberal philosophy in this instance, boundaries established initially will likely be widened to allow for other interest groups to access euthanasia. Secondly, granting the choice to be killed, or receive aided death will undermine the choice and/or will of many others to live. Thirdly, legalising physician assisted suicide/euthanasia infers acceptance of the notion that 'some suicides are okay'. They say this would undermine work undertaken in recent years by various non-government and government groups to remove the various stigmas associated depression and other mental illnesses that are known to be influencing factors in an individual not seeking treatment, which ultimately leads to some individuals ending their own life. This is particularly so in relation to youth suicide. Finally, broad societal support is given to the ongoing effort within the practice of palliative care to address the needs of the whole patient and their families. They say that legalising euthanasia/physician assisted suicide may hamper progress in supporting quality of life for those who want to live. "The key issue is not compassion or morality—people on both sides of the debate want to prevent intolerable suffering. The key issue is the long-term consequences of a law change for public safety. This is an issue of social justice—protecting the vulnerable." [15]

The Salvation Army opposes euthanasia. They do not see it as "death with dignity" and say that individuals do not have the right to take their own life. [16]

New Zealand anti-abortion organisations such as Voice for Life and Right to Life New Zealand are also opposed to decriminalisation of voluntary euthanasia or physician assisted suicide, although this has usually been subordinate to their opposition to abortion in New Zealand.

However, according to the New Zealand census, New Zealand is an increasingly secular society and it is probable that it is medical practitioners organisations that have greater credibility when it comes to opposition to euthanasia law reform. The New Zealand Medical Association and Hospice New Zealand do not support the legalisation of euthanasia.

Attempts at legalisation

Two attempts to allow for legal euthanasia in New Zealand have failed to get through Parliament. In 1995 Michael Laws championed the Death with Dignity Bill, which aimed to legalise voluntary euthanasia. The terminal illness of Cam Campion, a colleague in Laws' first term in Parliament, prompted this advocacy. It failed by 61 votes against and 29 supporting the bill. [17]

Peter Brown, when he was an MP for the New Zealand First political party, introduced a Death with Dignity Bill in 2003, but it was defeated by 60 votes opposing to 58 supporting. [17] Brown became an advocate for euthanasia after his wife died of cancer in 1984.

On 11 March 2012, New Zealand Labour Party list MP Maryan Street announced that she was forwarding another member's bill to the parliamentary ballot box to forward the debate after witnessing the deaths of her mother and sister from incurable illnesses. The proposed legislation was known as the End of Life Choices Bill. [18] By mid-July 2013, there were reports that her party colleagues were requesting that Street withdraw the bill, given the possibility that it would distract from other issues during 2014 general election campaign. [19]

On 6 June 2015, ACT New Zealand MP David Seymour confirmed that he was preparing a member's bill that would legalise medical aid in dying after Seales v Attorney-General found that only Parliament had the ability to address assisted dying laws. [20] He entered the End of Life Choice Bill into the ballot on 14 October 2015. [21] The bill passed its first reading 76–44 in December 2017, its second reading 70–50 in June 2019, [22] [23] and its third reading 69–51 in November 2019. [3]

On 30 October 2020 the preliminary euthanasia referendum result was announced, showing 65.2% voting in favour and 33.8% voting against. A one year implementation period will be triggered when the full results are announced on 6 November 2020. [4]

Court cases

Lesley Martin

Lesley Martin received nationwide media coverage over the trial of the attempted murder of her mother. In her 2002 book To Die Like A Dog she revealed that she killed her mother due to the pain that she was suffering and was arrested shortly after its release. Martin was given a 15-month sentence [24] of which she served seven and a half months. Martin has since retired from euthanasia reform activism and dissolved Dignity New Zealand. [25]

Sean Davison

In a similar case, professor Sean Davison wrote his memoir, The Last Waltz: Love, Death & Betrayal, published in 2015, documenting the final days of his mother's life in 2006. [26] A leaked copy of an early manuscript of the book revealed that he offered his mother a dose of morphine to help end her life. [27] [28] He was initially charged with attempted murder in 2011, but later pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of inciting and procuring suicide. He was sentenced to five months' home detention. [29]

Lecretia Seales

In 2015, lawyer and cancer sufferer Lecretia Seales put a case before the High Court to challenge New Zealand law for her right to die with the assistance of her GP, asking for a declaration that her GP would not risk conviction. [30] [31] She died of natural causes shortly after her family had received the judge's decision in Seales v Attorney-General, but before it was made public. [32]

Organisations

For euthanasia The two main organisations lobbying for euthanasia in New Zealand are:

There were internal disagreements between Dignity New Zealand's Lesley Martin and Exit International's Philip Nitschke over the best way to provide voluntary euthanasia/physician assisted suicide for those who desire it. Martin favoured the introduction of legislation and regulation to control assisted suicide while Nitschke promotes autonomy and individual choice and responsibility at the end of life irrespective of existing legislation. Similar divisions occurred between organisations that sanction decriminalised and regulated voluntary euthanasia/physician assisted suicide and the late Jack Kevorkian in the United States, over similar tactical and strategic questions.

Against euthanasia The main organisation lobbying against euthanasia in New Zealand is The Care Alliance, a broad coalition of organisations from medical, family values, social, ethics, faith, disability, and other areas of society that advocates for better conversations around dying and improved access to palliative and other end of life medical and health practices. The Care Alliance members, however, share an understanding that compassionate and ethical end of life care does not include euthanasia and assisted suicide. [33]

The members of The Care Alliance are:

See also

Related Research Articles

Euthanasia is the practice of intentionally ending life to eliminate pain and suffering.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assisted suicide</span> Suicide undertaken with aid from another person

Assisted suicide describes the process by which a person, with the help of others, takes drugs to end their life. It has been referred to as physician-assisted suicide (PAS), assisted suicide, assisted dying or medical aid in dying.

The right to die is a concept based on the opinion that human beings are entitled to end their lives or undergo voluntary euthanasia. Possession of this right is often bestowed with the understanding that a person with a terminal illness, or in incurable pain has access to assisted suicide. The question of who, if anyone, may be empowered to make this decision is often the subject of debate.

Voluntary euthanasia is the purposeful ending of another person's life at their request, in order to relieve them of suffering. Voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS) have been the focus of intense debate in the 21st century, surrounding the idea of a right to die. Some forms of voluntary euthanasia are legal in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suicide legislation</span> Laws concerning suicide around the world

Suicide is a crime in some parts of the world. However, while suicide has been decriminalized in many countries, the act is almost universally stigmatized and discouraged. In some contexts, suicide could be utilized as an extreme expression of liberty, as is exemplified by its usage as an expression of devout dissent towards perceived tyranny or injustice which occurred occasionally in cultures such as ancient Rome, medieval Japan, or today's Tibet Autonomous Region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Care Not Killing</span> British anti-euthanasia organisation

Care Not Killing is an alliance of multiple groups, including faith-based and pro-life organisations, opposed to legalising euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide in the United Kingdom. The alliance was founded in 2006.

Involuntary euthanasia is illegal in all 50 states of the United States. Assisted suicide is legal in 10 jurisdictions in the US: Washington, D.C. and the states of California, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, New Mexico, Maine, New Jersey, Hawaii, and Washington. The status of assisted suicide is disputed in Montana, though currently authorized per the Montana Supreme Court's ruling in Baxter v. Montana that "nothing in Montana Supreme Court precedent or Montana statutes [indicates] that physician aid in dying is against public policy."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dignity in Dying</span> UK pro-euthanasia organisation

Dignity in Dying is a United Kingdom nationwide campaigning organisation. It is funded by voluntary contributions from members of the public, and as of December 2010, it claimed to have 25,000 actively subscribing supporters. The organisation declares it is independent of any political, religious or other affiliations, and has the stated primary aim of campaigning for individuals to have greater choice and more control over end-of-life decisions, so as to alleviate any suffering they may be undergoing as they near the end of their life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legality of euthanasia</span>

The legality of euthanasia varies between countries and territories. Efforts to change government policies on euthanasia of humans in the 20th and 21st centuries have met with limited success in Western countries. Human euthanasia policies have also been developed by a variety of NGOs, most advocacy organisations although medical associations express a range of perspectives, and supporters of palliative care broadly oppose euthanasia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assisted suicide in Australia</span> Legal history of euthanasia in Australia

Laws regarding euthanasia or assisted suicide in Australia are matters for state and territory governments. As of June 2024 all states and the Australian Capital Territory have passed legislation creating an assisted suicide and euthanasia scheme for eligible individuals. These laws typically refer to the practices as "voluntary assisted dying".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assisted suicide in the United States</span> Medically-induced suicide with help from another person

In the United States, the term "assisted suicide" is typically used to describe what proponents refer to as "medical aid in dying", in which a terminally ill adult is prescribed, and self-administers, barbiturates if they feel that they are suffering significantly. The term is often used interchangeably with "physician-assisted suicide" (PAS), "physician-assisted dying", "physician-assisted death", "assisted death", and "medical aid in dying" (MAiD).

Both euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal in the United Kingdom and could be prosecuted as murder or manslaughter.

My Death, My Decision (MDMD) is an organisation that campaigns for the legalisation of assisted dying in England and Wales. The group was founded in 2009, in order to campaign for a change in the law and advocate on behalf of adults of sound mind, who are either terminally ill or incurably suffering.

Lecretia Anne Seales was a New Zealand lawyer who, upon suffering a brain tumour and enduring treatments for it, became an advocate of physician-assisted dying.

California End of Life Option Act is a law enacted in June 2016 by the California State Legislature which allows terminally ill adult residents in the state of California to access medical aid in dying by self-administering lethal drugs, provided specific circumstances are met. The law was signed in by California governor Jerry Brown in October 2015, making California the fifth state to allow physicians to prescribe drugs to end the life of a terminally ill patient, often referred to as physician-assisted suicide.

On 29 November 2017, Victoria became the first Australian state to pass legislation allowing assisted suicide. The law gives anyone suffering a terminal illness, with less than six months to live, the right to end their life. The law had an 18-month implementation period, and came into effect on 19 June 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">End of Life Choice Act 2019</span> Act of Parliament in New Zealand

The End of Life Choice Act 2019 is an Act of Parliament in New Zealand that gives people with a terminal illness the option of receiving assisted suicide or euthanasia. The act came into force on 7 November 2021, twelve months after the 2020 euthanasia referendum was declared in favour of the legislation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Davison</span> South African scientist and author (born 1962)

Sean Davison is a New Zealand-born South African scientist and author. In 2010 he was arrested in New Zealand and charged with the attempted murder of his terminally-ill mother, Dr. Patricia Ferguson. As a result of his arrest and High Court trial, he became an international campaigner for changes to the law regarding assisted dying under legally-defined criteria. He is the founder and director of the pro-euthanasia organisation Dignity South Africa and served for five years as president of the World Federation of Right-to-Die Societies. Both organisations support the decriminalisation of voluntary euthanasia.

Assisted suicide is the ending of one's own life with the assistance of another. It is currently illegal under the law of the United Kingdom. In England and Wales, the Suicide Act 1961 prohibits "aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the suicide of another" with a penalty of up to 14 years' imprisonment. Approximately 46 Britons a year travel abroad for physician-assisted suicide, usually to Dignitas in Switzerland. Following legal challenges, public prosecutorial guidance was issued in 2010 indicating scenarios where prosecution for assisted suicide may not be in the public interest. The phrase "assisted dying" is often used instead of physician-assisted suicide by proponents of legalisation and the media when used in the context of a medically assisted suicide for the purpose of relieving suffering. Bills to legalise assisted dying have been introduced multiple times in Parliament since the 1930s, but none have passed. The devolved governments of Scotland and Northern Ireland have not legalised assisted dying either, although there is some political support for changing the law in Scotland. Polling shows a majority of the British public and doctors support legalising assisted dying. The British Medical Association adopted a neutral position in 2021 after previously opposing any changes to the law.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 New Zealand euthanasia referendum</span> Binding referendum in New Zealand

The 2020 New Zealand euthanasia referendum was a binding referendum held in New Zealand on 17 October 2020, on the question of whether to legalise euthanasia via the End of Life Choice Act 2019. The vote was held in conjunction with the 2020 general election, and official results were released on 6 November 2020. It was accepted by New Zealand voters, with 65.1% in support and 33.7% opposed.

References

  1. ↑ Butterworth: Crimes Act 1961: Wellington: Lexis/Nexis: 2003
  2. ↑ Hastings, W K (2008). Annual Report 2007/08, Peaceful Pill. Wellington: Office of Film and Literature Classification (New Zealand). p. 17.
  3. 1 2 Henry Cooke (13 November 2019). "MPs vote in favour of End of Life Choice Bill at final reading" . Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Referendum results live: NZ votes yes on euthanasia, no on cannabis legalisation".
  5. ↑ "Assisted Dying Service". New Zealand Ministry of Health. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  6. ↑ "Referendum results: End of Life Choice Act passes, legalising assisted dying". 30 October 2020.
  7. ↑ "The HDC Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights Regulation 1996". Health and Disability Commissioner. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  8. ↑ "A Report on Euthanasia for the NZMA" (PDF). Nzma.org.nz. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  9. ↑ "Massey survey shows support for euthanasia". Massey University. 30 January 2003. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  10. ↑ "Most support voluntary euthanasia: survey". ODT. 3 October 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  11. 1 2 "Poll Results". Voluntary Euthanasia Society. Archived from the original on 7 January 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  12. ↑ "Poll: Kiwis want euthanasia legalised". Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  13. 1 2 "2013 Census QuickStats about culture and identity". Archive.stats.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 23 January 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  14. ↑ "Anglican Taonga : New Zealand's Anglican News Leader". Anglicantaonga.org.nz. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  15. ↑ "Media Releases". Catholic.org.nz. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  16. ↑ "Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji & Tonga Territory". Archived from the original on 24 July 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  17. 1 2 "Assisted dying: New Zealand – New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  18. ↑ "Street in fresh bid for right-to-die law". Stuff . 10 March 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  19. ↑ "Euthanasia bill under party pressure". New Zealand Herald. 17 July 2013.
  20. ↑ "Euthanasia debate back on the political agenda". Stuff. 6 June 2015.
  21. ↑ Seymour, David. "Seymour lodges assisted dying Bill". Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  22. ↑ "Euthanasia bill passes second reading". New Zealand Herald . 26 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  23. ↑ "Euthanasia bill passes second reading in Parliament". Radio New Zealand . 26 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  24. ↑ Gardiner, James (1 May 2004). "Defiant Martin chooses prison". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  25. ↑ "How Melulater Sees It: The dignity of life and death – an uncomfortable conversation". howmelulaterseesit.blogspot.co.nz. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  26. ↑ Shepheard, Nicola (3 July 2009). "Plea for 'death with dignity'". New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 5 July 2009.
  27. ↑ Shepheard, Nicola (5 July 2009). "Son confesses: I killed my mum". New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 5 July 2009.
  28. ↑ "Accused was warned of book's backlash". New Zealand Herald . 26 October 2011. ISSN   1170-0777 . Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  29. ↑ "Sean Davison "effectively acquitted"". Otago Daily Times . 2 November 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  30. ↑ "Lecretia Seales: Lawyer with cancer embarks on challenge to New Zealand's euthanasia laws". Australian Broadcasting Corporation . Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  31. ↑ "Judge thanks woman for right-to-die case". Radio New Zealand . Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  32. ↑ "Euthanasia case: Lecretia Seales dies hours after family received judge's decision". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  33. ↑ "About -". Carealliance.org.nz. Retrieved 14 August 2019.

Further reading

Organisations
Government
News
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.