Euthanasia advocate prescribes simplicity
Professor Jan Bernheim planned his pro-euthanasia tour of New Zealand months ago and by coincidence was here when the parliamentary bill ballot brought the issue into public debate.
Bernheim, a medical doctor and palliative care specialist from Belgium, spoke at a public meeting in Christchurch on Saturday.
He was in Wellington last week when ACT leader David Seymour’s End of Life Choice bill was drawn out.
Nearly 100 attended the meeting in Christchurch and not all were in favour of Bernheim’s message.
Bernheim, used to debating in a predominantly Catholic country with mainly Catholic hospitals, said some religious figureheads had accepted – or at least turned a blind eye to – euthanasia. ‘‘More and more Catholic organisations really let their physicians act according to their consciences.’’ But Catholic John Collier disputed that.
‘‘The Catholic Church in no way condones it,’’ he said.
‘‘Thou shalt not kill and that’s the end of it.’’
Another person said legalising euthanasia would alienate those doctors who did not want to perform it. Bernheim said it was normal for doctors to refer patients to other specialists if they were unable, unqualified, or unwilling to perform a procedure. ‘‘There are many gynaecologists ... who do not perform abortions and they are not out of business.’’
Euthanasia is legal in eight countries – including Belgium – and seven states in the United States. Bernheim said New Zealanders’ support rates for euthanasia were similar to some countries where it is legal: between 70 and 80 per cent.
‘‘Of course, there are legitimate objections ... this is a personal point of view.’’
His advice for New Zealand if it decides to legalise euthanasia: ‘‘Don’t make it too complicated ... don’t be cruel on patients.’’
Christchurch palliative care specialist Dr Wendy Pattemore told Fairfax Media she disagreed with some of Bernheim’s arguments. She said the culture in Belgium was different, and ‘‘hastening’’ death had been acceptable there for many years before euthanasia was legalised.
‘‘I do fear that if we do something like that, we will alter the fabric of our culture.’’
Pattemore said we should also take into account the views of New Zealand’s diverse cultures, such as Maori, Pacific Islanders and Asians, who have different values to Europeans when it comes to the elderly. She was concerned that as people aged they could subconsciously consider themselves ‘‘dispensable’’, or a burden on their families and country.
She said palliative care was about helping people live well at the end of their life.
‘‘What I see is people wanting to stay alive as long as possible.
‘‘There’s always a little bit of hope. Not to be cured, but to see that grandchild, or do that one more thing.’’