What will decriminalizing euthanasia mean for you and our society?

Details Friday 11 May, 7:30pm, Lecture Theatre 2, College of Education, Dovedale Ave, Ilam Gold coin entry fee Speaker Paul Russell from HOPE: preventing euthanasia & assisted suicide Inc., Australia’s leading [...]]]> The Coalition for Life is hosting a public meeting in Christchurch this Friday entitled’

What will decriminalizing euthanasia
mean for you and our society?

Details
Friday 11 May, 7:30pm, Lecture Theatre 2, College of Education,
Dovedale Ave, Ilam
Gold coin entry fee
Speaker
Paul Russell from HOPE: preventing euthanasia & assisted suicide Inc., Australia’s leading anti-euthanasia national network.
For more information email coalition4lifenz@gmail.com or phone  Alexia Hoyt ph (03) 942-7833
About the speaker
Paul Russell is founder and director of HOPE: preventing euthanasia & assisted suicide Inc., Australia’s leading antieuthanasia national network. He is also vice chair of the International Euthanasia Prevention Coalition based in Canada. Paul has had more than 15 years experience fighting euthanasia bills, mainly in South Australia. Paul will talk about the euthanasia situation in Australia and elsewhere but focus mainly on why euthanasia & assisted suicide is a bad idea – with special reference to the coming private member’s bill in the New Zealand Parliament.

“You matter because you are you.
You matter to the last moment of your life,
and we will do all we can,
not only to help you die peacefully,
but also to live until you die.”
Dame Cicely Saunders
(founder of the world’s first purpose-built hospice)

We believe the points he raises in his article were insightful and  very pertinent given the current situation here in NZ where for [...]]]> John Kleinsman, the spokesperson for the  Nathaniel Centre – the NZ Catholic Churches bioethics centre -was featured in last Sundays (6th May 2012) Sunday Star times writing on the issue of Euthanasia. 

We believe the points he raises in his article were insightful and  very pertinent given the current situation here in NZ where for the third time we face a  New Zealand MP trying to push an agenda of death on our country’s elderly and unwell.

The article speaks for itself.

Of utmost importance in this debate is his statement in the article that even the proponent of the latest Euthanasia bill, Maryan Street acknowledges that no amount of safeguards can be put in place to stop the law being abused. This is the crux. If Euthanasia is decriminalised in New Zealand then be prepared for the long slippery slope.

The discussion will include Paul Russell of HOPE: Preventing Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, Janet Marsland of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society, Dr Grant Morris of the School of Law of Victoria University and [...]]]> Wellington’s Museum of City and Sea is holding a debate on the topic of Euthanasia on Thursday 10th May at 7 pm.

The discussion will include Paul Russell of HOPE: Preventing Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, Janet Marsland of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society, Dr Grant Morris of the School of Law of Victoria University and Anne MacLennan from Palliative Care at the Capital & Coast District Health Board.

Right to Life considers this an important event given the threat that Labour MP Maryan Street’s proposed Private Members Bill which seeks to decriminalise Euthanasia is shortly to be presented to parliament.

The  Museum is located  at Queens Wharf , 3 Jervois Quay,  Wellington  in  the heart of Wellington’s waterfront and is 2 minutes from Lambton Quay and the cable car.

It has developed  ‘The Will to Live Project’ . Do we in New Zealand need to start thinking about formulating similar documents here? Given the threat posed by the like of Maryan Street [...]]]> The Robert Powell Centre for Medical Ethics in the United States  is concerned about the growing threat concerning end of life issues.

It has developed  ‘The Will to Live Project’ . Do we in New Zealand need to start thinking about formulating similar documents here? Given the threat posed by the like of Maryan Street Labour MP, who is on the verge of presenting her Private Members Bill to Parliament seeking the decriminalsing of Euthanasia, we at Right to Life say yes.

The Power centre download link can be found by clicking here.    Note that there are individual versions which pertain to each US state.

The aims and objectives of the Will to Life Project are presented below.

THE WILL TO LIVE protects your own life and the lives of
your family members when you cannot speak for yourselves

• Names someone you trust to safeguard your life when you cannot speak for yourself as your "health care agent"
• Names backup agents if your first choice can’t serve
• Describes the treatment you do and do not want to guide your health care agent and physicians
• Protects your family and health care agent from pressure from health care providers and others by allowing them to prove what you really did want
• Relieves the agony of decision making for them by making your wishes clear.

What is the Will to Live?

The Will to Live is a legal document that you can sign which:

• Names someone to make health care decisions for you (your "heath care agent’) if you develop a condition that makes it impossible for you to speak for yourself (become "incompetent"), and

• Makes clear (in the form of written instructions to your health care agent) what medical treatment you would want if you can no longer speak for yourself.

Free Legal Help With the Will to Live

While you may be able to complete the "Will to Live" advance directive on your own, if you feel the need for legal advice in doing so, volunteer attorneys working with the Alliance Defense Fund are willing, free of charge, to help you make your health care wishes l:egally clear. If you have any questions concerning your advance directive, we urge you to seek proper legal counsel.

Right to Life points out that this article refers to the United States situation and not NZ but we encourage those with legal skills to consider formulating similar documents here.

A Public meeting organised by the Coalition for Life NZ on the above topic is being held on

Friday 11 May, 7:30pm

Lecture Theatre 2, College of Education,

Dovedale Ave, Ilam, Christchurch

Gold coin entry fee

Speaker

Paul Russell from HOPE: preventing euthanasia & assisted suicide Inc., Australia’s leading anti-euthanasia national [...]]]>

A Public meeting organised by the Coalition for Life NZ on the above topic is being held on

Friday 11 May, 7:30pm

Lecture Theatre 2, College of Education,

Dovedale Ave, Ilam, Christchurch

Gold coin entry fee

Speaker

Paul Russell from HOPE: preventing euthanasia & assisted suicide Inc., Australia’s leading anti-euthanasia national network.

For more information email coalition4lifenz@gmail.com or phone Alexia  Hoyt ph (03) 942-7833 or Chris O’Brien ph 027 3588685

About the speaker

Paul Russell is founder and director of HOPE: preventing euthanasia & assisted suicide Inc., Australia’s leading anti- euthanasia national network. He is also vice chair of the International Euthanasia Prevention Coalition based in Canada. Paul has had more than 15 years experience fighting euthanasia bills, mainly in South Australia. Paul will talk about the euthanasia situation in Australia and elsewhere but focus mainly on why euthanasia & assisted suicide is a bad idea – with special reference to the coming private member’s bill in the New Zealand Parliament.

"You matter because you are you.

You matter to the last moment of your life,

and we will do all we can,

not only to help you die peacefully,

but also to live until you die."

Dame Cicely Saunders

(founder of the world’s first purpose-built hospice)

Bay of Plenty Times.

15 April 2012

Dear Sir

Caring not Killing

We should oppose Maryan Street’s euthanasia Bill. There is no dignity in being killed by your doctor. Euthanasia is all about doctors killing their patients or assisting in their suicide. In the Crimes Act homicide and assisted [...]]]> The Editor,

Bay of Plenty Times.

15 April 2012

Dear Sir

Caring not Killing

We should oppose Maryan Street’s euthanasia Bill. There is no dignity in being killed by your doctor. Euthanasia is all about doctors killing their patients or assisting in their suicide. In the Crimes Act homicide and assisted suicide are serious crimes against the person. These laws are there to protect us all, especially the vulnerable. Euthanasia comes from a culture of death, palliative care from a culture of life, they are totally incompatible. The concept of so called “Dignity Havens” where killing and caring would be offered is to accept a wolf in the guise of a lamb. In Holland the Dutch government has recently announced that it will provide six mobile euthanasia units to cover all of Holland as there are many persons with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease who are being missed by the euthanasia laws. The mobile units would allow these patients to be “treated” in their own homes. In Holland in 2009 there were 2636 patients killed by their doctor including 400 where the doctor assisted in the patient’s suicide. There were also 500 patients who were killed by their doctor without the knowledge of the patient or family. These figures are conservative as many cases are not reported.

Yours faithfully

Ken Orr

Spokesperson,

Right to Life

Nelson Mail.

Dear Sir

Euthanasia, a threat to the vulnerable

It is encouraging that the Salvation Army and the InterChurch Bioethics Council, representing the Anglican, Presbyterian and Methodist Churches have spoken out against the proposed Private Members Bill of Maryan Street.The Catholic Church has been opposed to euthanasia for 2000 years and [...]]]> Editor

Nelson Mail.

Dear Sir

Euthanasia, a threat to the vulnerable

It is encouraging that the Salvation Army and the InterChurch Bioethics Council, representing the Anglican, Presbyterian and Methodist Churches have spoken out against the proposed Private Members Bill of Maryan Street.The Catholic Church has been opposed to euthanasia for 2000 years and is totally opposed to the Bill. The Bill would enable doctors to kill their patients or assist in their suicide.  The principled stand of the Churches should be an encouragement to every member of the community especially  Christians to speak up in the defence of life and oppose the proposed euthanasia bill. The proposed Bill is also opposed by the New Zealand Medical Association, the disability sector and by the Hospice movement. Euthanasia is not about pain control. Oregon reported  114 assisted suicides in 2011,  only a third of patients cited inadequate pain control. The most commonly expressed concern of those dying was being  a burden on family, friends or caregivers, being  less able to engage in activities and losing autonomy. As in previous years there was no formal evaluation or treatment for underlying depression, often the reason for requests for euthanasia. Death by euthanasia thus becomes not an act of personal autonomy, but an act of desperation.

Yours faithfully

Ken Orr

Spokesperson,

Right to Life ,

The Press.

Dear Sir

Euthanasia a slippery slope

Re David Chilvers, 31 March. The publication, Two Decades of Research on Euthanasia from the Netherlands is an apology for a culture of death. His allegation that doctors in New Zealand are allowing patients to suffer before being assisted to die is  [...]]]> The Editor,

The Press.

Dear Sir

Euthanasia a slippery slope

Re David Chilvers, 31 March. The publication, Two Decades of Research on Euthanasia from the Netherlands is an apology for a culture of death. His allegation that doctors in New Zealand are allowing patients to suffer before being assisted to die is  false and disparages  the excellent palliative care available in the health system which allow patients to die with dignity.  Euthanasia is not about pain control but reducing the cost of health care. Oregon reported  114 assisted suicides in 2011,  only a third of patients cited inadequate pain control. The most commonly expressed concern of those dying was being  a burden on family, friends or caregivers, being  less able to engage in activities and losing autonomy. As in previous years there was no formal evaluation or treatment for underlying depression, often the reason for requests for euthanasia. Death by euthanasia thus becomes not an act of personal autonomy, but an act of desperation. 

Yours faithfully

Ken Orr

Spokesperson,

Right to Life.

The Salvation Army notes the intention of Maryan Street (MP) to introduce a Private Members “end of life choice” Bill to legalise voluntary euthanasia and/or physician-assisted suicide. The Salvation Army believes euthanasia and assisted suicide are morally wrong regardless of illness, age [...]]]> The following article is a release on the New Zealand Salvation Army website

The Salvation Army notes the intention of Maryan Street (MP) to introduce a Private Members “end of life choice” Bill to legalise voluntary euthanasia and/or physician-assisted suicide.
The Salvation Army believes euthanasia and assisted suicide are morally wrong regardless of illness, age or disability, and does not accept the view that euthanasia is “death with dignity”. It says there are two important misconceptions around euthanasia: that death is usually preceded by serious pain, and that modern medicine seeks to prolong the dying process for as long as possible.

To continue reading on the Army’s website follow this link