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Legal option to die essential

David Seymour

Wellington, May 13, 2017

The police investigation and prosecution of Hutt Valley woman Susan Austen shows the need for Parliament to pass a law allowing medically assisted dying.

Whatever the outcome of Ms Austen’s case, it shows that people with terminal or incurable illness should be able to ask a doctor to help them die.

As it stands, if a person who is suffering from illness wishes to die they are driven either to commit suicide, often in horrific circumstances, or to seek the help of friends and family – who break the law if they assist.

No safeguards

There are no safeguards when it comes to amateur-assisted suicide.

None of this would happen if there were a legal option of a medically assisted death, carried out by doctors, with safeguards to protect the vulnerable and ensure informed consent. These would be provided by my End of Life Choice Bill.

About Susan Austen

Susan Austen is charged with assisting the suicide of Annemarie Niesje Treadwell, aged 77. Ms Treadwell complained of painful arthritis and memory loss.

Under the End of Life Choice Bill assisting suicide would remain illegal except if provided by a doctor, to an eligible person, suffering from a grievous and irremediable condition, after checks by two physicians.

David Seymour is elected Member of Parliament from Epsom and Leader of the ACT Party.

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