Euthanasia: The Doctors Survey. [NZ.]

Below is my letter to the editor sent today to the Christchurch Press, in response to a letter published from Ken Orr (advocate for the Catholic run Right for Life lobby; writing against euthanasia, abortion, and thus an individual’s right to own their life - because God does).

If I choose euthanasia, that is between me, my family, and a compassionate doctor; it is no business of the meddling Ken Orr and his medieval faith which preaches the insanity of suffering as religious observance. Given euthanasia is voluntary, I fail to understand why those against it deserve a say in this debate: they can die unaided. The position against euthanasia by NZMA is unethical and negligent, because they yet allow it as ethical to administer a pain remediation regime that ‘may hasten death’. What does that mean? In that contradiction the one in ten doctors who have conceded to (mercifully) facilitating a euthanasia, are having to risk ‘everything’ in aiding those whose lives have become intolerable to them. We need euthanasia legislation to put this finally above board, and have an individual’s inalienable right to die with dignity, and an ethical service for that, conjoined.

Also, a question for the New Zealand Medical Association. When your UK counterpart polled its members, it was voted in the majority that euthanasia was a question to be decided by society, not the doctor members of UKMA, and that should be recognised in the debate. Why will the NZMA not poll its members on this matter? The evidence from this recent doctor survey clearly shows the NZMA does not speak for all of its members, perhaps not even a majority of them.

Related:

Why this National Government Urgently Needs to Pick Up Maryan Street’s Bill.