Euthanasia's slippery slope is well greased
"Euthanasia reduces the cost of palliative care" - NZ Advocate
When the euthanasia law was being passed in Parliament and then voted on in the Referendum in 2019 - 2020, one of the statements we made was:
There is concrete evidence from the countries which have introduced euthanasia that the availability and application of euthanasia expands to situations not initially envisaged. When a newly-permitted activity is characterised as a ‘human right’, the overseas experience is that there is an inevitable push to extend such a ‘right’ to a greater number of people, such as those with chronic conditions, disabilities, mental illness, those simply ‘tired of life’, or even children."
Sadly, we are being proved correct.
Here's just three recent developments:
1. As we previously highlighted to you, the Associate Minister of Health David Seymour who is overseeing the upcoming review of the euthanasia law recently stated on RNZ:
“The statutory review is being the Ministry of Health right now. I believe, without pre-empting what it will say, that it will give a lot of weight to making change."
It is deeply disturbing that a Minister would campaign and potentially unduly influence an independent review with this type of commentary, although Seymour has already made it clear that he wants the law expanded.
2. One of the key NZ proponents of euthanasia said the quiet part out loud! David Farrar who owns Curia Market Research (who we use for our polling but also has his own blog) was critiquing a very good commentary by Simon O'Connor on the issue "Alarm Bells" - and Farrar said this:
The cost of an assisted death to the taxpayer is $1,087.20 so a total cost of say $500,000 a year compared to the cost of palliative care of $186 million a year. You could even argue that euthanasia reduces the cost of palliative care."
Wow. They admitted it.
The law has introduced a new element of ‘financial calculation’ into decisions about end-of-life care. This harsh reality is arguably the ‘elephant in the room’ in the debate.
At an individual level, the economically disadvantaged who don’t have access to better healthcare could feel pressured to end their lives because of the cost factor or because other better choices are not available to them.
Elder abuse is already a significant problem in New Zealand. About 80% of it remains hidden and unreported. We cannot ignore the possibility that dependent elderly people may be coerced into assisted suicide/euthanasia. Elderly and ailing patients are also all too aware that their increasingly expensive rest home and geriatric care is steadily dissipating the inheritance that awaits their children. Sadly, some unscrupulous and callous offspring might not be slow in pointing this out.
The End of Life Choice Act only provides a ‘right’ to one choice – premature death. There is no corresponding right to palliative care.
3. Even before the due date for public submissions for a review of the current law has expired, another ACT MP Todd Stephenson has just lodged a member’s bill in Parliament’s ballot to extend the eligibility for euthanasia.
The End of Life Choice (Extended Eligibility) Amendment Bill removes the requirement for a terminally ill person to demonstrate a six-month prognosis.
Many disabilities are life-limiting and involve complications that can become life-threatening.
Will mental illness, 'tired of life' and even children be in the next bill?
Speak up - read more about the review of the law and how you can have your voice heard. Go to: https://familyfirst.org.nz/2024/08/14/a-review-of-the-end-of-life-choice-act-survey/
Thanks Bob.
Breda O'Neill has a searing article in the Irish Times about this vile practice (title has 'slippery slope' in). She cites the Dutch woman who was held down and killed AFTER she'd said 'NO, I have changed my mind.'
NZ Listener reported same story as 'she was gently held down and the final dose was administered'. If you hadn't read Breda's piece, you'd think it was all sunshine and roses..... head of Dutch Oversight Committee took all his panel to Auschwitz, ffs. Not on.
Why not make society a better place to live for people instead of offing them?