Seales Family Commends Green Party For Leadership on Assisted Dying

The family of Lecretia Seales today congratulated the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand for their leadership in announcing a party policy that supports assisted dying.

Matt Vickers, the widower of Lecretia Seales said: “The Greens’ approach is sensible, moderate and careful, and is clear enough that most New Zealanders would find it difficult to fault. They have considered and addressed opponents’ concerns by being very clear on criteria, and have affirmed the value of full access to quality palliative care as complementary to an assisted dying process for terminally ill people who make a clear and consistent choice to have it. The Greens have listened to the large majority of New Zealanders that support legislative change and responded accordingly.”

The Greens’ announcement echoes the submission of the Human Rights Commission who presented to the Health Select Committee on Wednesday, where they affirmed that assisted dying could be made available to protect an individual’s rights, provided that certain criteria were met.

“It is great to see the Greens and the Human Rights Commission advocating for patient rights so constructively. Instead of dismissing assisted dying as impossible, these organisations have acknowledged the overseas evidence that it does work and does bring extraordinary relief to some individuals, and they are productively working towards a framework that is appropriate for New Zealand. They have demonstrated a willingness to do the hard work and deal with difficult social issues, something we should be able to expect from all of our political leaders and organisations but that we don't see often enough.”

The Greens’ announcement of their policy was made by Kevin Hague, the Greens’ Health spokesperson, during his valedictory speech confirming his retirement from parliament next week.

“Mr Hague has been a wonderful advocate for individual rights and freedoms within parliament, whose work has gathered respect across the political spectrum,” said Mr Vickers, “His work on the same sex marriage bill, assisted dying, and many other important issues have helped ensure New Zealand continues to remain a tolerant and inclusive society. His presence in parliament will be missed.”

Lecretia Seales took a case to the High Court of New Zealand in May 2015, seeking a judgment that would protect her doctor from prosecution should she consent to be assisted to die. Ms Seales passed away a year ago, on 5 June 2016, on the same day the judgment in Seales v Attorney General was delivered.

Ms Seales case galvanised a parliamentary inquiry and the launch of a private members' bill from ACT leader David Seymour, who has also been very active in his support for assisted dying.

Ms Seales legal challenge has been documented in Lecretia’s Choice, a memoir written by her husband, Mr Vickers, and was launched at parliament last month at an event hosted by the Hon Nikki Kaye. It is available in book stores.

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