Integrity of Simon O’Connor MP Defended
The integrity of Simon O’Connor, chair of the Parliamentary Health Select Committee has been questioned by Gareth Morgan. He challenges Simon O’Connor’s right to chair the Committee while holding the view that the killing of patients or
assisting in their suicide is unethical and a violation of human rights. Simon O’Connor is a person of integrity who is
faithful in following his informed conscience.
It was Benjamin Franklin, the famous American statesman who stated, “The first and only duty of the state was to
legislate for the health and happiness of the people and not to preside over their destruction.” The community should be
grateful that we have an MP like Simon O’Connor, who believes that Parliament has no authority to decide who shall live
and who shall die and no right to give permission for doctors to kill their patients.
The law,”Thou shall not kill.” is impressed on the heart of every man by our Creator, whether they choose to believe it
or not.
Assisting in suicide and homicide are serious crimes that are in the Crimes Act to protect the lives of the vulnerable
in our community; the aged , the disabled and the seriously ill. We remove such protection in law at our great peril.
Simon O’Connor is to be commended for defending the ethics of the medical profession which is committed to caring for
patients and not killing them. Doctors want to be carers not killers. He is also defending the trust that the community
has in the medical profession that killing, is not a treatment option.
Parliament needs more Members like Simon O’Connor, who are committed to acting with integrity and to protecting the
right to life of every person from conception to natural death.
Belief that doctors should not kill their patients or assist in their suicide should not preclude Simon O’Connor from
chairing the Health Committee. Right to Life is confident that he will chair the Health Committee with fairness and will
allow a full and careful consideration of all the evidence presented to the Committee by those who support doctors
killing their patients and those who are opposed to it. Such is the democratic process. May all of our Parliamentarians
follow the commendable example of Simon O’Connor in publicly defending life and opposing a culture of death.
ENDS