25 August 2016
Media Statement
Euthanasia Advocates Having A ‘Trump Tantrum’?
Wendi Wicks, convener of Not Dead Yet Aotearoa, says it’s astounding but sadly predictable unsurprising that the 75%
plus opposition to assisted suicide can be dismissed as “insignificant” by a submitter at yesterday’s first day of oral
hearings at the Health Select Committee Inquiry. She describes euthanasia advocates’ reaction to the news that the
proportion of the over- 21,000 news that more than three-quarters of submissions opposed assisted suicide as a ‘Trump
Tantrum’ of abuse.
“Donald Trump has become infamous for the way he appeals to fear, denies the evidence, asserts ‘truths’ on no basis, and
denigrates his opponents. Unfortunately euthanasia advocates in New Zealand seem to be going down the same sorry path.”
“They really don’t want people who are not like them, or think differently from them, to have any kind of voice at all,”
said Ms Wicks. “They peddle a line that having a physical or mental disability is inherently undignified and involves
intolerable suffering. They refuse to see any evidence of problems in overseas jurisdictions and delude themselves they
can have irnclad safeguards. And, like Andrew Denton, they tell themselves that any opposition could only possibly be
based on religious grounds and should therefore be dismissed. That’s not only factually wrong, it’s an affront to all
New Zealanders.”
Ms Wicks said that such bigotry is disturbing enough on its own, “but we need to remember that these are the people who
want the State to be handing out lethal injections. What is a truly awful combination that makes.”
ENDS
About Not Dead Yet Aotearoa
Not Dead Yet Aotearoa is a group that has been set up and run by disabled people to address the problems that legalising
euthanasia and assisted suicide hold for disabled people. NDYA members uphold the implementation of the CRPD (Disability
Convention), and speak from the standpoint of disability rights, social justice and equality, not a religious or medical
approach. At 24% of the population disabled people are New Zealand’s largest minority.
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