Euthanasia in New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Euthanasia
is illegal in New Zealand
and two attempts at passing legislation on legalised euthanasia failed to get through Parliament. It is also illegal to 'aid and abet suicide' under Section 179 of the New Zealand Crimes Act 1961
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
Right 7 of the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights states:
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 regardless of whether the patient or relatives wishes to have it carried out.
in 2003 showed that 73% wanted assisted suicide
legalised if it was performed by a doctor but if done by others support drops to 49%. The wording of the questions were:
A survey carried out on behalf of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society in 2008 showed that 71% of New Zealanders want to have it legalised.
The question read:
The 2008 survey by Massey University gave similar results.
, part of the Anglican Communion
and the largest church in New Zealand, believes that euthanasia has a place in society.
The Roman Catholic Church in New Zealand
, the second largest church in the country, oppose euthanasia and consider that only God
can take a human life. The Church also say that it is up to the patient, not the doctor, to withhold any medical treatment that may prolong an individuals life.
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.
Predominantly Roman Catholic New Zealand anti-abortion/pro-life
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
.
championed the unsuccessful 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 for the Bill.
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 to 57 votes. Brown became an advocate for euthanasia after his wife died of cancer in 1984.
to help end her life. 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.
There are 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 favours 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 have occurred between organisations that sanction voluntary euthanasia/physician assisted suicide and Jack Kevorkian
in the United States, over similar tactical and strategic questions.
has run articles that question whether the aforementioned fragmentation of euthanasia reformists, coupled with their lack of professional allies and the opposition of the New Zealand Medical Association and other medical groups will hamper decriminalisation of voluntary euthanasia or assisted suicide in New Zealand. This is based on analysis of the successful reform movements in the Netherlands and Oregon
, where organised medical groups took a neutral stance on decriminalisation.
News
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
is illegal in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and two attempts at passing legislation on legalised euthanasia failed to get through Parliament. It is also illegal to 'aid and abet suicide' under Section 179 of the New Zealand Crimes Act 1961
The controversial book The Peaceful Pill Handbook
The Peaceful Pill Handbook
The Peaceful Pill Handbook is a controversial book giving instructions on how to perform euthanasia. It was originally published in the U.S. in 2007 and was written by the Australian doctors Philip Nitschke and Fiona Stewart....
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
Philip Nitschke
Dr. Philip Nitschke is an Australian medical doctor, humanist, author and founder and director of the pro-euthanasia group Exit International. He campaigned successfully to have a legal euthanasia law passed in Australia's Northern Territory and assisted four people in ending their lives before...
excised a section that dealt specifically with methods of suicide, which might otherwise have fallen afoul of Section 179
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:
- "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
Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994
The Health and Disability Commissioner Act was an Act of Parliament passed in New Zealand in 1994.-See also:*Health care in New Zealand*Euthanasia in New Zealand...
.
The New Zealand Medical Association oppose voluntary euthanasia and doctor assisted suicide maintaining that it is unethical regardless of whether the patient or relatives wishes to have it carried out.
Support
A survey done by Massey UniversityMassey University
Massey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students, 20,000 of whom are extramural students.The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
in 2003 showed that 73% wanted assisted suicide
Assisted suicide
Assisted suicide is the common term for actions by which an individual helps another person voluntarily bring about his or her own death. "Assistance" may mean providing one with the means to end one's own life, but may extend to other actions. It differs to euthanasia where another person ends...
legalised if it was performed by a doctor but if done by others support drops 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?"
A survey carried out on behalf of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society in 2008 showed that 71% of New Zealanders want to have it legalised.
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?"
The 2008 survey by Massey University gave similar results.
Stance by religious organisations
The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and PolynesiaAnglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia is a church of the Anglican Communion serving New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, and the Cook Islands...
, part of the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
and the largest church in New Zealand, believes that euthanasia has a place in society.
The Roman Catholic Church in New Zealand
Roman Catholic Church in New Zealand
The Catholic Church in New Zealand is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, which, inspired by the life, death and teachings of Jesus Christ, and under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and Roman curia in Vatican City is the largest Christian church in the world.Catholic settlers first arrived...
, the second largest church in the country, oppose euthanasia and consider that only God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
can take a human life. The Church also say that it is up to the patient, not the doctor, to withhold any medical treatment that may prolong an individuals life.
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.
Predominantly Roman Catholic New Zealand anti-abortion/pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
organisations such as Voice for Life
Voice for Life
Voice for Life is New Zealand's oldest and largest pro-life group with branches nationwide. Voice for Life's role is to educate about the humanity of the preborn child, the effects of abortion on women and advocate for social change so that abortion is seen as unthinkable medical homicide...
and Right to Life New Zealand
Right to Life New Zealand
Right to Life New Zealand is a Christchurch-based pro-life group. It was expelled from the New Zealand Society for Protection of the Unborn Child in December 1999....
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
Abortion in New Zealand
Abortion in New Zealand is currently legal in cases where the pregnant woman faces a danger to her life, physical or mental health, or if there is a risk of the fetus being handicapped, in the event of the continuation of her pregnancy...
.
Attempts at legalisation
There have been two attempts to allow for legal euthanasia in New Zealand. In 1995 Michael LawsMichael Laws
Michael Laws is a New Zealand politician, broadcaster and writer/columnist. He served two terms as a Member of the New Zealand Parliament, representing the National Party and New Zealand First . He was elected as Mayor of Wanganui in 2004, was re-elected in 2007 but announced his retirement from...
championed the unsuccessful Death with Dignity Bill, which aimed to legalise voluntary euthanasia. The terminal illness of Cam Campion
Cam Campion
Cameron "Cam" Campion was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.-Private life:Campion was a queen scout and attended St Georges Preparatory School and Wanganui Collegiate. He was captain of the Wanganui under 21 rugby team...
, a colleague in Laws' first term in Parliament, prompted this advocacy. It failed by 61 votes against and 29 for the Bill.
Peter Brown, when he was an MP for the New Zealand First
New Zealand First
New Zealand First is a political party in New Zealand that was founded in 1993, following party founder Winston Peters' resignation from the National Party in 1992...
political party, introduced a Death with Dignity Bill in 2003, but it was defeated by 60 to 57 votes. Brown became an advocate for euthanasia after his wife died of cancer in 1984.
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 of which she served seven and a half months.Sean Davidson
In a similar case professor Sean Davidson wrote his memoirs in the book Before We Say Goodbye published in 2009, documenting final days of his mothers life in 2006. A leaked copy of an early manuscript of the book revealed that he offered his mother a dose of morphineMorphine
Morphine is a potent opiate analgesic medication and is considered to be the prototypical opioid. It was first isolated in 1804 by Friedrich Sertürner, first distributed by same in 1817, and first commercially sold by Merck in 1827, which at the time was a single small chemists' shop. It was more...
to help end her life. 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.
Organisations
The three main organisations lobbying for euthanasia in New Zealand are:- the Voluntary Euthanasia Society
- Dignity New Zealand
- the New Zealand chapter of Exit International
There are 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 favours 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 have occurred between organisations that sanction voluntary euthanasia/physician assisted suicide and Jack Kevorkian
Jack Kevorkian
Jacob "Jack" Kevorkian , commonly known as "Dr. Death", was an American pathologist, euthanasia activist, painter, composer and instrumentalist. He is best known for publicly championing a terminal patient's right to die via physician-assisted suicide; he said he assisted at least 130 patients to...
in the United States, over similar tactical and strategic questions.
Criticism of reform movement
GayNZ.comGayNZ.com
GayNZ.com is the leading Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community news website for New Zealand.It posts daily local and international news stories, monitors fundamentalist Christian politics in New Zealand and associated anti-gay pressure groups, reports on political developments related...
has run articles that question whether the aforementioned fragmentation of euthanasia reformists, coupled with their lack of professional allies and the opposition of the New Zealand Medical Association and other medical groups will hamper decriminalisation of voluntary euthanasia or assisted suicide in New Zealand. This is based on analysis of the successful reform movements in the Netherlands and Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, where organised medical groups took a neutral stance on decriminalisation.
External links
OrganisationsNews
- New Zealand Herald - Euthanasia archive