Media Release 23rd September 2016
Green Party adopts policy to amend law to allow doctors to kill their patients or assist in their suicide.
Right to Life is disappointed that the Green Party has adopted a policy to support amending the Crimes Act to allow
doctors to kill their patients who have a terminal illness or to assist in their suicide. The Green Party thus has the
notorious distinction of being the first political party in New Zealand that is prepared to adopt this policy that
allows the strong to kill the weak. The electorate should in the interest of the common good and in the defence of the
most vulnerable members of our community, the aged, the disabled and the seriously ill, withdraw electoral support for
this Party which is increasingly promoting a culture of death.
This contentious policy is an insult to the community and to Parliament. It is appalling that this policy should be
announced in defiance of the consideration that is being given at this time by the Parliamentary Health Select Committee
to the more than 20,000 submissions on the issue of euthanasia. The Greens health spokesperson Kevin Hague (pictured)
announced the new policy on Thursday 22 September. Concluding with the statement; “this policy will allow people to
choose to die with dignity.” Right to Life believes that there is no dignity in being killed by your doctor and that the
Greens have now forfeited their right to be in Parliament. The famous American statesman Benjamin Franklin wisely
stated; “the only duty of government was to legislate for the protection of the lives and the happiness of its citizens
and not to preside over their destruction”.
Right to Life believes that the Greens are being inconsistent. Their media release claims that their new policy excludes
supporting a law change to allow doctors to kill or assist in the suicide of a disabled person or a person who is not
terminally ill. The reason being that they fear the marginalization of the lives of people with disabilities. However
the Green’s health policy clearly states that at such time as New Zealand has “policies and practices in place that
ensure full social inclusion, including equitable access to health services for disabled people” then they will support euthanasia and physician assisted suicide for the disabled. Right to Life believes that the disability sector should rightly be fearful of this policy which will further devalue
their lives.
The health policy also states; “Treating doctors and medical practitioners who elect not to participate in this process
must refer the individual to a practitioner who is prepared to participate.” The Greens here are exhibiting total
disregard for the conscience rights of health practitioners.
Right to Life requests that the community recognize that a vote for the Greens is a vote to remove the prohibition of
intentional killing which is bedrock principle of both the law and medical ethics.
Ken Orr
Spokesperson,
Right to Life