Media Release 13 November 2022
Right to Life believes that this report represents the government’s rejection of the authority of our Creator and His fifth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill”.
Right to Life is disappointed that the Labour government of Jacinda Ardern is prepared to authorise and fund the killing of vulnerable New Zealanders under the guise of health care. This is the first government in New Zealand that has permitted the withdrawal of ethical medical care to be replaced with a lethal injection. It is noticeable that the Prime Minister and her government by their deafening silence refuse to take ownership of this shameful historical first annual report on the killing of vulnerable patients whose lives were deemed to be not worthy of living.
The Registrar of Assisted Dying, Dr Kristin Good, has presented her report on the patients who have been killed by their doctor or assisted in suicide under the authority of the contentious End of Life Choice Act 2019 for the period 7 November, 2021 to 30 September 2022.
A total of 214 vulnerable patients were killed out of the 294 applicants who were confirmed as eligible. There were 80 patients who withdrew their request, died before their scheduled killing or were still waiting to be terminated.
The Registrar reports that:-
- 174 [or 81.3%] were killed in their own home or another person’s residence.
- 17 [or 7.9%] were killed in an aged care facility.
- 14 [or 6.5%] were killed in a public hospital.
- 9 [or 4.2%] were killed in a public hospice facility.
Right to Life is opposed to all euthanasia and is appalled that some vulnerable patients are being killed in public hospitals, aged care facilities and presumably in one hospice in contravention of the hospice movement’s prohibition of euthanasia. Right to Life is conducting a campaign to encourage retirement villages to adopt a policy of being euthanasia free.
Reasons for being ineligible for a lethal injection or assistance in suicide.
- 44, Not experiencing unbearable suffering to be relieved in a tolerable manner.
- 66, Does not suffer from a terminal illness that is likely to end their life in six months.
- 44, Not in an advanced state of irreversible decline in physical capability.
SCENZ Group Practitioners, The Support and Consultation for End of Life in New Zealand (SCENZ) Group lists 132 unique practitioners, 92 Attending medical practitioners, 81 Independent medical practitioners,11 psychiatrists and 11 nurse practitioners, who are cooperating with the EOLC Act. There are some practitioners filling dual roles.
Right to Life commends and supports medical professionals who refuse to participate in the killing of their patients by killing them with a lethal injection or assist in their suicide.
There are more than 15,000 registered medical practitioners in New Zealand. This list of health practitioners in New Zealand prepared to facilitate the killing of patients confirms that the vast majority of medical practitioners faithfully uphold their medical ethics not to take the life of their patients.
Ken Orr,
Spokesperson,
Right to Life NZ Inc.