Beyond politics

It is pointless for David Seymour to try to silence criticism of the End of Life Choice Bill. The evidence of the damaging abuse caused by euthanasia is all over the internet. Readers simply need to Google the following news stories:

‘Death drugs cause uproar in Oregon,’ where cancer patient Barbara Wagner was refused treatment but instead offered death by her insurance company (ABC News); ‘The troubled 29-year-old helped to die by Dutch doctors’ (BBC); ‘Belgium investigates three doctors who euthanased woman with autism (CBS News); ‘Alarming increase in number of Dutch teens committing suicide’ (NL Times); ‘Chronically ill man releases audio of hospital staff offering assisted death,’ about Ontario man Roger Foley (CTV news); ‘Dutch probe ”appalling” death of dementia patient’ (Star Tribune).

None of these news sources are conservative; all of them are regarded as left-leaning. This puts the lie to the claim by campaigners that opposition to euthanasia is confined to a conservative bloc.

The evidence from overseas is crystal clear. The Bill’s campaigners are, quite simply, backing a losing horse.

This issue is beyond politics. I urge all MPs to vote ‘no’ at the second reading. The Seymour Bill must not pass. STEPHEN FRANCIS

Auckland

"The evidence from overseas is crystal clear. The [End of Life Choice] Bill’s campaigners are, quite simply, backing a losing horse."