Seymour Bill
The logic in Seymour’s apologia for his bill grows even more convoluted (Letters, March 24).
He now assures an earlier correspondent that his Bill will ‘‘help to reduce elder abuse,’’ this by a ‘‘highly safeguarded legal protocol’’.
That will address the safety of older persons in hospitals. ‘‘At present, all sorts of end of life decisions are made about treatment, resuscitations, and worse with no safeguards whatsoever’’:. Chaos incorporated, he thinks.
Seymour’s bill would allow - however euphemistically it’s presented - killing under the circumstances he reiterates in his letter.
It would be an ‘‘option’’ for the person who meets the conditions, free of pressure from anyone else. So he naively believes. How will the matter of elder abuse be addressed in a private home?
Any law governing assisted dying/euthanasia entails defining a class of innocent persons as having their lives exempted from the general protection accorded to all, whether they want this or not.
Those who did not would thereby be left to their own ability to resist subtle pressures or influences exerted by relatives, doctors or the state, despite supposed safeguards written into the law. Add to this self-induced concerns about not wanting to be a burden on family and health funds and there exists, though unintended, a subtle form of pressure by the state. Those not so defined are protected from the ‘‘privilege’’ of applying to have themselves terminated (should they want), one would hope because of the recognition by the lawmakers of the sanctity of human life. But this, apparently, ought to defer to subjective determinations of when it ceases to apply.
There is one element in this contention that is irrefutable. That is, if an absolute law is tampered with to allow terminations for limited conditions, there is no logical reason not to allow more enthusiasts to attempt to change the law further.
How far this has gone overseas shows the dangers of taking the first step. P Schaab Timaru number not very helpful at all, so could I ask, through the letters to the editor, would the person who left it please call me on (03) 6844290.
If I am not home, leave a number on my answerphone to call.
On other occasions the person who bought the form to my door has helped me, but this one has been a nightmare for me.
I am more than willing to fill in a census form but can’t do it alone, and I am frightened that I will break the law and be fined. Please can someone help me? Maureen Harper
Timaru Victoria Matthews.
It was a nice contrast to the vilification she has been subjected to in recent years.
From the time she took office she has maintained a vision for a living church, not a dying institution; young people, Christian stewardship and Christcentred mission.
It is amazing how it was still valid despite the earthquake.
Sadly this has been set back by the cathedral decision to rebuild a monument.
Said decision reminded me of the Brexit referendum in the United Kingdom, democratic yet wrong.
So we are left with an unholy mess. Dennis Veal Timaru