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.

Like our page (Not Dead Yet Aotearoa) on Facebook
Follow us (@NDY_NZ) on Twitter
E mail us notdeadyetnz@gmail.com

© Scoop Media