‘Disabled at risk’ if bill gets through
The Disability Rights Commissioner says the euthanasia bill being considered by Parliament undermines years of work.
Paula Tesoriero said ACT party leader David Seymour’s private member’s End of Life Choice Bill, which was before the Justice Select Committee, undermined years of work to change perceptions of disabled people, and posed significant risks to them.
Tesoriero has outlined her concerns regarding the bill in a submission to the select committee.
The window to submit a written submission on the bill closed at midnight on Tuesday. More than 14,000 submissions were received.
‘‘Much of the discussion so far has centred around the bill allowing people with a terminal illness to end their life on their own terms,’’ Tesoriero said.
‘‘However, this bill has wider implications for the disability community – it is not just limited to terminal illness.’’
Before the country legislated choice in death, it needed to work towards ensuring, to the greatest extent possible, all people had the same freedom of choice in life.
‘‘It’s my role to reflect the concerns of the disability community and what I am hearing is that there are significant concerns about this bill.’’
The provisions in the current bill provided insufficient protection around such things as informed consent, assessing a person’s capacity to make the choice, and determining if undue influence or coercion existed, she said.
Legislative change in relation to end of life choice could not be considered in isolation from the standard and current services and resources available to those who experienced serious but nonterminal conditions or palliative care services.
‘‘In its current form, the bill undermines the position of disabled and vulnerable members of our community.
‘‘It devalues their lives and poses significant risks to them, as individuals and as a group.’’
Seymour described end of life choice as New Zealand’s last great human rights hurdle. ‘‘The one area where we don’t have full autonomy over our bodies and our lives is when we die.’’
Seymour said he welcomed the commissioner’s submission, but questioned what the consultation was based on.
‘‘It’s good that we have someone trying to put forward the views of disabled people, because the test of any society is how it gives support to those who need it most.’’
However, he believed the submission did not acknowledge section 4(d), where it says a person cannot access an assisted death unless they are in ‘‘an advanced state of irreversible decline in capability’’.
Seymour’s private member’s bill was drawn last year, and in December it passed its first reading 76 votes to 44.