27 February 2014
Group Manager Strategy and Standards,
Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners,
Dear Ms McKeogh,
Maryan Street’s End of Life Choices Bill
Thank you for your reply of 30 October 2014. Thank you for clarifying your College’s position on euthanasia and for giving consideration to our request that your members write to the Hon David Cunliffe concerning Maryan Street’s Bill.
We are encouraged to write to you again following the decision made by the Royal College of General Practitioners in the United Kingdom, reaffirming the College’s opposition to euthanasia i.e. doctors being permitted to kill their patients or assisting in their suicide. Dr Clare Gerada, Chairperson of the Royal College stated that this was the widest consultation ever taken by the College; there were 1,700 responses from doctors with 77 per cent being opposed to any change to their position which is to oppose euthanasia.
Right to Life wishes to request that your College give serious consideration to following the example of the Royal College by adopting a strong stance against euthanasia. It is imperative for the future of the medical profession that it upholds and protects the ethics of the profession founded on respect for the sanctity of life of every human person from conception to natural death.