Media Release 30 October 2020
The support of 65.2 per cent who voted yes to the euthanasia referendum marks a sad day of infamy in our nation’s history. New Zealand now has the notoriety of being the first country in the world that has approved with a national referendum to allow the killing of its most vulnerable. New Zealand now becomes not only the most dangerous place in the world to be an unborn child but the most dangerous place if you are elderly, seriously ill or disabled.
The architect of this legislation David Seymour and the Labour government who wanted an overwhelming “yes” vote will be delighted their campaign of misinformation has produced the planned result.
This is the day that New Zealand accepted the implementation of the End of Life Choice Act that empowers doctors to administer a lethal injection to their patients or assist in their suicide as some sort of “health care”.
This Act is a threat to the lives of every person in our community. It is not the end of change in these laws, but merely the first step in implementing the agenda of the international euthanasia movement, who ultimately desire assisted killing for anyone who is tired of life, or who believes that they may be a burden on their family or society so cannot justify their continuing existence.
This is the legislation that provides cover for the perfect crime, the victim is killed and disposed of, there are no witnesses and their death certificate is falsified to conceal the truth that the patient was actually killed by their doctor. No doctor will be tried for manslaughter or homicide, because they will always be acting “in good faith”.
This law may corrupt the medical profession and drive out some members who refuse to participate in mercy killing or assisted suicide. The trust between patients and their doctors will be eroded unless safer alternatives to euthanasia continue to be readily available and adequate funding is provided for palliative care. The safeguards which should protect the vulnerable are not specificed in this law – no independent witnesses are required, and no consultation with family or whanau is required under this law.
The duty of Parliament to protect the lives of every citizen, especially our weakest and most defenceless members has been changed forever. Parliament now has assumed the authority of our Creator. It now arrogantly believes that it has the decision making authority about who may live and who may be killed. It also believes that it has the authority to empower and direct doctors to ignore medical ethics to kill and not to care.
This tyrannical referendum posing as democracy is not the end, but the beginning of our battle against euthanasia. The pro-life movement will not abandon the vulnerable in our community, but re-commits ourselves to fight unceasingly for the repeal of this obnoxious End of Life Choice Act.
Parliament has shamefully abdicated its responsibility to present a truthful and accurate campaign to educate voters on this critical issue, has ignored the wishes of the majority of the submissions against this dangerous law, and has failed to protect the vulnerable who may be coerced into an early death.
Ken Orr
Spokesperson,
Right to Life N.Z Inc.