Media release – for immediate publication 13 November 2019
The End-of-Life Choice Society is pleased MPs have recognised that the majority of voters across a wide spectrum of
society want a law change to allow the terminally ill to die free of intolerable pain and suffering, its president Dr
Mary Panko said on Wednesday.
“We applaud our legislators for refusing to surrender to the barrage of lies and misinformation opponents of change have
lobbied at them over recent years.” Dr Panko said campaigners for end-of-life choice had waited 24 years for Parliament
to take this step to reduce bad deaths in New Zealand.
“We look forward to the referendum confirming that New Zealanders can join more than 200 million people around the world
who live in jurisdictions with compassionate enlightened laws allowing freedom of choice to die with dignity.
“New Zealanders can rest assured that no more will die when the law is adopted, but fewer will suffer,” Dr Panko said.