Support dropping for End of Life Choice Act ahead of poll
Mariano Mendonza (Letters, March 1) raises many valid concerns about dangers in the End of Life Choice Act.
Recent media articles indicate that support for this act is progressively dropping ahead of the September 19 referendum.
1 News-Colmar Brunton polls tracked a loss in support from 76 per cent in July 2018 and 72 per cent in July 2019, dropping in February 2020 to only 65 per cent.
Meanwhile, the most recent Newshub Reid Research poll showed a further drop from 71 per cent support in a 2018 poll, down to only 62 per cent.
Clearly, the more Kiwis become aware of the actual detail of the EOLC Act, the less they like it.
No right to make others murder
Gavan O’Farrell is correct on euthanasia, Christian or secular, we have no right to make others murder. We do have some compassionate people in the medical industry who could ease the passing of a loved one, but that doesn’t imply they should ever be asked to be actively involved. I think most of us dream of a swift and dignified death, and, for them, I hope this bill passes. Could the bill be abused? Absolutely, but not as much as those stuck in a living nightmare.
Randel Case, Bucklands Beach
Humanitarian not a killer
Not all opponents of euthanasia are Christian, but I suspect all Christians are opponents. (Please write in if you’re Christian and pro-euthanasia.)
I would feel honoured to be asked to help a good friend die with dignity, at a time of his choosing, perhaps surrounded by his friends and relatives. I would have acted with kindness and compassion, and my involvement might change me, perhaps for the worse, but, more likely, I think, for the better. Some might wish to call me “a killer”, but I would call myself a humanitarian. I should not be prevented from helping my friend by people who would not help their friends in the same way.
Finally, there is no need to worry about society tolerating religion. It clearly does. Atheists don’t wish to force euthanasia on religious people. Rather religious people wish to prevent others from behaving in a way that upsets them, and, perhaps, their god.
Chris Elias, Mission Bay
‘All deaths went very well’
Thanks to the Herald on Sunday for exposing viewpoints regarding assisted dying legalisation in New Zealand (Letters, March 1). We are by no means the only country in the world to be heading in the direction of legalisation. More than 160 million people now have the right to die with dignity. The earliest legislation was passed more than 20 years ago in the state of Oregon.
An article in the medical publication, Medscape, last week reported Hope Wechkin, MD, medical director of Evergreen Health Hospice, explaining how voluntary assisted dying has been successfully incorporated into hospice practice in the state of Washington. Washington legalised assisted dying in 2008 and has a decade of experience with the practice now.
“One thing that helped change attitudes was that there were no negative experiences; all deaths went very well. Time and time again I’d hear that the death went beautifully,” she said. (Quoted from
Medscape)
No assisted dying legislation has ever been repealed. That speaks volumes.
Ann David, Waikanae
Many times average wage
I find it hard to feel any sympathy for a female TV presenter earning 4.27 times the New Zealand average wage just because her male counterpart earns 4.82 times the average New Zealand wage.
In spite of a post-graduate science degree and occupying a senior technical role in a large New Zealand manufacturing company I never got close to that multiple of the New Zealand average wage during my working career.
Peter Walters, Auckland