What about the financial benefits of euthanasia?
THE article by Jo Moir on End of Life Choice Act: changes deemed needed ( ODT, 24.4.24) is very clear that it wants to extend the availability of end of life legislation to include those who cannot make the choice themselves. The one issue that was not mentioned is the financial benefit of this for an underfunded health service.
The cost of good end of life care is high.
Expanding the scope of the Act and presenting it as more caring will clearly be a great money saver for the health service.
It may also enable those families who want to safeguard their inheritance to do so.
The government has said it will reduce the cost of health services. Encouraging those at the end of their lives and their families to choose death not life is another way to save money.
It deprives them of a very special time of family care.
I discovered this looking after three of my family members at the end of their lives and working in palliative care for 10 years.
Anna Holmes
St Leonards
Bemused on Albany
I AM a regular cyclist on Albany St.
It is one of the more cyclefriendly streets in Dunedin.
I am completely bemused at the proposal to install a ‘‘cycleway’’ on it. A few ‘‘shared roadway’’ signs, a` la George St, is the most it needs.
Tony Williams
Dunedin
Tough Sentencing
THE frontpage account of Iraia Burton’s crime spree and subsequent sentencing to six months’ home detention ( ODT, 25.4.24) made me check the date. Yes it was Anzac Day and not April Fool’s Day. The poor man claimed he was ‘‘triggered’’ by counselling to commit his crimes.
Mr Luxon promised to get tough on crime; our laws and judges don’t seem to have the power or inclination to deliver.
Susan Johnston Mosgiel
Fractured debate
THERE’S an interesting alignment of stories ( ODT, 24.4.24).
One page 1, the main street playground; page 6, NZ Post unveiling its huge processing centre for online retail and on page 7 the debate on the Albany St cycleway.
Page 1 and page 7 underline the fractured debate around parking in town. A local said the site of the playground would have been better used for parking. If that's at the topofmind of a passerby in central Dunedin, then it's something to consider. The cycleway will cost the area 68 car parks, yet it seems from the story that some think the council has already made up its mind — cycleway all the way.
After arriving in Dunedin about three years ago I began to avoid going into town to shop because the free parking situation was so bad. Metered parking isn't particularly easy either, because of the demand. Basically, finding that car park is a stress I choose to avoid at all costs. When I read stories about the parking debate, I get the distinct impression the council has become an implacable enemy of anything promotorist. If it runs on petrol or diesel, it is evil. And that is why I do a great deal of my shopping online. I do try to support Dunedin retailers in this way, but unless you're there, on the spot, you don't know what many of them offer. I am not the only one switching to online shopping. That is why NZ Post has created a massive centre to support online retail. The signals are clear: in taking everything away from local motorists the council is offering a cold shoulder to the retail heart of this city.
Susan GrantMackie Mornington