The Salvation Army recognises that there are diverseopinions in New Zealand about euthanasia and assisted dying.As a Christian movement, the Army holds a view on the valueof life that leads to a conclusion that the natural processof dying requires significant care, and should lead us tofind better ways to deal with suffering rather than endingthe lives of those who suffer.

As a movement committedto working with and for the vulnerable and marginalised, TheSalvation Army believes that the End of Life Choice Act is adeeply flawed piece of legislation that does not incorporatesufficient safeguards and is likely to increasevulnerability for many New Zealanders. This includes theelderly and those struggling with mental illness.

Theproposed Act requires no independent witnesses, as injurisdictions currently allowing euthanasia; no prescribedcooling off period, meaning that death can happenwithin four days of a request being made; physical pain isnot a requirement; assisted death is not limited to an actof last resort; and there are inadequate checks for whethera person is being pressured, which overseas experiencesuggests can be a significant factor. Taken together, thesefactors inevitably increase vulnerability for New Zealandersfacing such a significant moment in their life.

TheSalvation Army notes that New Zealand has a world-renownedpalliative care system that already provides high-qualityend-of-life care. The focus should be on improving access tothis care, not legislating a quicker death. Further, theArmy contends that there is a significant difference betweenwithholding treatment that prolongs life which isalready allowable under New Zealand law and takingaction to intentionally cause death.

The SalvationArmy does not support the End of Life Choice Act, and inlight of the shortcomings of the Act itself, encourages NewZealanders to vote no, even if they support euthanasiainprinciple.

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The Salvation Army is an international movement and an evangelical branch of the Christian Church that expresses its ministry through a range of spiritual and social programmes. Our operational headquarters for New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga is in Wellington, New Zealand.

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The Salvation Army Does Not Support The End Of Life Choice Act - Scoop.co.nz