Legalise assisted dying

Posted by 154tp on November 25, 2016

The ACT party has a private member's bill in the hat, but neither National nor Labour has the courage to deal with this issue. It's just a matter of time before we catch up to the more progressive societies and keep government out of people's private lives and stop telling them when they're allowed to die. Irrespective of what the Health Select Committee concludes, dying on your own terms is a fundamental human right and was never anyone else's business. It is an embarrassment to us all that we're forcing the elderly to import Nembutal from China.

Do you like this suggestion?

Sign in with

John Gibson commented 2016-12-11 11:36:55 +1300

When I’m ready to go I want to die with dignity. I do not want waste away as a blubbering comatose incontinent pain wracked lump of flesh and bone which will simply unduly distress any friends and family who may still care. Elder abuse will still exist for those who wish to abuse the elderly. For those that don’t wish to abuse elders, let them die in a way of their own choosing. We don’t make our pets suffer at the end. Why do we make dying people suffer?
John Gibson tagged this with important 2016-12-11 11:36:55 +1300
Dennis Ingram tagged this with important 2016-12-03 18:49:31 +1300
Anna White tagged this with important 2016-11-30 07:49:25 +1300
Paul Eaton tagged this with important 2016-11-28 21:59:35 +1300
Jonathan Swadling tagged this with important 2016-11-27 11:03:37 +1300
Richard Wyles tagged this with important 2016-11-26 11:10:31 +1300
John Rusk commented 2016-11-26 10:02:49 +1300

Definitely an issue that the country should consider. However, if it was one of the TOP 7, my fear would be that it would receive a disproportionate amount of media attention, with a risk of stereotyping the party as being about this one, emotive and contentious issue. Maybe it would be better for TOP to tackle this in 5 to 10 years time, once the party has some runs on the board, and has demonstrated the trustworthy-ness of its approach to the electorate.
John Rusk tagged this with interesting 2016-11-26 10:02:48 +1300
Philip Marshall commented 2016-11-26 09:14:30 +1300

I don’t think it is low priority for people directly affected. In terms of being open to abuse, is there any evidence base for that in the places that have legalised this?
Philip Marshall tagged this with important 2016-11-26 09:14:30 +1300
David ten Have tagged this with interesting 2016-11-26 05:09:55 +1300
Jane Upton commented 2016-11-25 22:51:31 +1300

This needs good open discussion, as I feel people should have a right to choose how/when they want to die. It would be essential for any policy to have wise and strict guidelines.
Jane Upton tagged this with interesting 2016-11-25 22:51:31 +1300
Brendan Childs tagged this with interesting 2016-11-25 19:38:03 +1300
James Fulton tagged this with important 2016-11-25 14:39:50 +1300
Peter Jamieson tagged this with low priority 2016-11-25 14:37:03 +1300
Bart Brichau tagged this with interesting 2016-11-25 14:36:19 +1300
Nathan Rattray tagged this with dislike 2016-11-25 14:19:59 +1300
Nathan Rattray tagged this with low priority 2016-11-25 14:19:59 +1300
Tim O’Donnell commented 2016-11-25 14:13:59 +1300

I agree with this idea with strict guidelines. Most thing could be open to abuse. Low Priority however at this time
Tim O’Donnell tagged this with interesting 2016-11-25 14:13:58 +1300
Benjamin Johnstone tagged this with important 2016-11-25 14:09:28 +1300
Sean McGrath published this page in Suggestions 2016-11-25 14:02:09 +1300

Legalise assisted dying