David Farrar: Sensible changes proposed to End of Life law

The Herald reports:

Among the areas it identified for improvement was a rule that said any discussion of assisted dying had to be initiated by the patient.

The rule was made out of concern a patient might feel pressured to consider assisted dying if it was suggested by a doctor. The ministry, however, said it was contrary to health consumer rights and was creating a significant barrier to access for some people.

Brendan O'Neill, This is a truly dark day for our nation

Our political class has just sanctioned death for the ‘worthless’.

For me, the grimmest thing about today’s ‘assisted dying’ debate in the House of Commons was when MPs emitted an audible groan upon hearing about Canada’s state-sanctioned killing of the wretched. It was the Conservative MP Danny Kruger who had the temerity to mention these unfortunates put to death by their own government. He referred to ‘medics’ in Canada, who are ‘specialists in assisted death’, who ‘personally kill hundreds of patients a year’. A collective whine shook the chamber as MPs were confronted with the truth of what they were voting for: the right of state-approved bodies to slay certain members of the public. ‘If honourable members have a difficulty with the language’, Kruger shot back, ‘then I wonder what they’re doing here’.

David Farrar: The six month rule

An excellent article in the NZ Herald on the review of the End of Life Choice Act:

She met most of the criteria, Johns said. The requirements include having a terminal illness, being in an advanced state of irreversible decline, experiencing unbearable suffering that cannot be relieved to a tolerable level, and being competent enough to give informed consent. There are also extra safeguards in the law: patients cannot apply purely on the basis of a mental illness, disability, or age.

But Smith failed a key test. Her two assessing doctors could not say with confidence that she was likely to die within six months. Her application was declined.