Thursday, 8 June 2017
EUTHANASIA BILL FLAWED FROM THE START
“David Seymour’s private member’s bill is based on an illusion. It assumes that it’s possible to create safeguards
around assisted suicide practices that can prevent wrongful deaths,” says Maxim Institute CEO, Alex Penk. “However,
international evidence has shown that there is no reliably safe way to legalise euthanasia or assisted suicide.”
“Anyone advocating for euthanasia or assisted suicide should have to answer this question: How many wrongful deaths are
they prepared to risk if these practices are introduced in New Zealand? What is the number? What is the acceptable error
rate, where error means wrongful death?” says Alex Penk.
“While Mr Seymour’s private member’s bill is getting attention now, of far more significance to this debate will be the
results of the Select Committee’s inquiry into this issue, which will have considered and included evidence presented by
more than 20,000 New Zealanders, professional bodies, legal experts, and organisations.”
ENDS