Saturday, 25 July 2020, 6:38 pmPress Release: Right To Life

Right to Life commends David Seymour, the architect andsponsor of the End of Life Choice Act for insisting that thepublic be given accurate information on the purpose of hislegislation. He stated on TVNZ One News on Tuesday 21stJuly, his concern that there was a danger that what hewrongly considered inaccurate important questions in arecent poll by Horizon could misinform theelectorate.

Right to Life supports David Seymour inhis desire to ensure that voters are fully informed on thelegislation that will empower doctors to give a lethalinjection to their patients or assist in theirsuicide.

Right to Life believes that David Seymourwould be greatly distressed to learn that a poll conductedby Curia marketing in 2017 found that the MAJORITY OFRESPONDENTS THOUGHT THAT THE End of Life Choice Bill wouldprovide options that were already legal.

85%thought that it included turning off life support

79% thought it includes do not resuscitate (no CPR)requests

67% thought it includes the stopping ofmedical tests, treatments and surgeries.

Similarresults were found in polls conducted in 2015 and2019.

The End of Life Choice Act is NOT about, nordoes it make legal the action of turning off life support,to make a 'do not resuscitate request (no CPR) or to stopmedical treatment. All of these end of life choices arealready legal, are not euthanasia and this new law, ifpassed, will not change these actions.

The End of LifeChoice Act is NOT about pain relief. Its already legalfor a doctor to give a person enough medication to addresstheir pain and make them comfortable, even if this mayhasten their death as a side effect as the doctor seeks toneither hasten or cause the death of his patient.

Thispoll demonstrates that the public is not yet aware of thecontent and meaning of the End of Life Choice Act. Webelieve that in order to have a fully informed publicreferendum on this critical issue of allowing doctors togive patients a lethal injection or to assist in theirsuicide it is essential that the above information be widelypublicised by the media and shown on the governmentreferendum web site.

Right to Life believes that DavidSeymour, who is a passionate advocate for choice has aserious duty to the community to make a public statement tothe media confirming that the EOLCA does not provide any ofthe above options. We believe that David Seymour would begreatly distressed if voters voted yes for the euthanasiareferendum in the mistaken belief that the legislationprovided for the above options which are already ethical,legal and have been available for many years.

Right toLife requests that the media, which are at the service ofthe community seek from David Seymour his confirmation thatthe above options are not provided for in the End of LifeChoiceAct.

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Right To Life Seeks Informed Debate On Euthanasia Referendum - Scoop.co.nz