18 June 2018
Voluntary Euthanasia Debate: It’s My Life, But is It My Death?
The public debate between senior Central Otago/Lakes school students, and the Upper Clutha Anglican Church parish, on
the controversial issue of voluntary euthanasia, will be held this coming Sunday afternoon in Wanaka.
A team of high profile Upper Clutha locals will be opposing the motion
‘That the End of life Choice Bill should become law’.
They will be led by retired district court judge Fred McIlrea, and include
Archdeacon Damon Plimmer and community hospice nurse Louisa Ingham. opposing the End of Life Choice Bill currently before Parliament.
The controversial End of Life Choice Bill, introduced into Parliament by Act party leader MP David Seymour, aims to legalise voluntary euthanasia for the
terminally and incurably ill.
Speaking in support of voluntary euthanasia will be a representative team of senior debaters drawn from the region’s
high schools – Leah Kissick (Year 13, Wakatipu High School), Jake Nicholson (Year 13, Mt Aspiring College)and Emily Downey (Year 13, Dunstan High School).
The Chairman for the debate will be Otago regional councillor Michael Laws – who introduced the first parliamentary attempt to legalise voluntary euthanasia back in 1995.
“ We often say that ‘it’s your life’ but is it your death? A number of groups believe that the terminally nor incurably ill should not have the final say –
that they should be denied that choice. It’s a debate that affects everyone of us,” says Michael Laws.
Entry to the debate is free, and members of the public are invited to attend and quiz and engage the speakers at the
debate’s end.
The debate will be held at 3pm on Sunday 24 June at the Wanaka Presbyterian Church in Tenby Street, Wanaka.
ends