‘I’m really proud of Lecretia’
Matt Vickers says he could not be prouder of his late wife for the part she played in advancing the push to legalise assisted dying.
That fight took a monumental step late yesterday when MPs voted 69-51 to approve ACT leader David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Bill, sending the issue to a public referendum next year.
Vickers’ wife, Lecretia Seales, died in 2015 at the age of 42 after suffering from brain cancer.
She campaigned for the right to choose how she died after being diagnosed, and was supported in that cause by Vickers.
Speaking from New York, where he stayed up until 3am to watch the vote unfold live, Vickers said it was wonderful news.
‘‘It’s fantastic that New Zealanders will have a say on this issue next year at a referendum.
‘‘I’m really proud of Lecretia today.
‘‘She probably had no idea the impact her actions five years ago would have.
‘‘It’s kind of amazing today to see the result of that.’’
Vickers was hopeful the referendum would pass next year.
‘‘It’s a pretty easy decision to make – to have choices when very few remain.
‘‘On balance, I think we’ll get a positive result.’’
End of Life Choice president Dr Mary Panko said MPs had recognised the majority of voters wanted a law change to allow terminally ill people to die free of intolerable pain and suffering.
‘‘We applaud our legislators for refusing to surrender to the barrage of lies and misinformation opponents of change have lobbied at them over recent years.’’
She said her organisation
looked forward to a referendum confirming that New Zealand would join jurisdictions with compassionate, enlightened laws allowing people to die with dignity.
No more would die when the law was adopted, but ‘‘fewer would suffer’’.
However, Euthanasia Free executive officer Renee Joubert said Parliament had passed the buck to the public.
The bill lacked important safeguards, she said.
‘‘For example, unlike the laws in Victoria, Canada and Oregon, this bill does not require independent witnesses to be involved in any part of the assisted death process.’’
She said people trusted Parliament to enact laws to keep vulnerable people safe, and the End of Life Choice Bill had significant loopholes that could enable coercion and abuse.
‘‘It’s a pretty easy decision to make – to have choices when very few remain.’’
Matt Vickers