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Submission by the Voluntary Euthanasia Society NZ to the Health Select Committee on Physician Assisted Dying

12 Nov 2015 7:07 PM | Philip Patston (Administrator)

On 2 September 2015 VESNZ made this general submission, supporting three parts to Physician Assisted Dying:

1. use in terminally ill patients e.g. cancer patients

2. use in individuals with grievous unbearable irreversible suffering which is relentless but may not cause death within 6 months e.g. motor neurone disease, very severe respiratory disease, and a number of other neurological conditions

3. provision for an End-of-Life Directive, written while mentally competent, but allowing PAD when the patient has become mentally incompetent.

Read here »

Comments

  • 16 Nov 2015 8:16 AM | Mary Panko
    I support this submission 100% - the question is - how could you possibly enact legislation of this nature without an End-of-Life Directive?
    Imagine a Physician Assisted Dying Bill being passed (as one day it will in NZ) - how else would the patient's wishes be known if they became unable to speak? No one thinks that writing a will is an unnecessary option but that only concerns one's material possessions.
    Let the NZ Parliament listen to the democratic views of the NZ people and pass this legislation. We have already waited too long!
    Link  •  Reply
    • 17 Nov 2015 6:04 PM | SUZY HILL
      I totally agree with Mary. It is only because my husband had an Advance Directive (soon to be an End-of-Life Directive) that both our GP and the Hospice were aware of what he wanted and did not want, eg no force feeding, no resuscitation, no antibiotics; he wished only to be kept comfortable when he could not longer eat or drink. That time came, and his wishes were accepted and respected.
      Link  •  Reply
  • 16 Nov 2015 12:11 PM | Jack Langstone
    Congratulations on a well researched and presented submission. I also support the submission 100%.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 16 Nov 2015 2:42 PM | Marianne Boyd
    I completely agree with the above submission, No. 1, No.2, No. 3. and give my total support.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 16 Nov 2015 4:37 PM | Pamela Lim
    I support this submission completely as it sums up all my concerns about pain when someone is dying and the chance of alzheimers is covered by the advance directive.
    This is well written and covers all other points of concern.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 16 Nov 2015 6:35 PM | Noeline Martin
    I totally support submission 100 %. Dying with dignity is very important to me
    Link  •  Reply
  • 16 Nov 2015 8:20 PM | Bets Blake
    Thank you for writing a comprehensive and well referenced submission.
    I support this 100%.
    I liked the way you articulated the complex issues for those who loose their mental competence who has advanced care directives.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 16 Nov 2015 10:28 PM | David Chilvers
    Once more into the breach my friends!
    I have been working on this issue for the best part of 20 years now.
    Legislation is slowly but surely being successfully introduced all around the world. We WILL succeed in the end!
    Link  •  Reply
  • 18 Nov 2015 1:14 PM | John Boyd
    I support the submission and will reference it in my own submission. I do have one query. I note that the medication cannot be left with the patients to administer when s/he is ready, and I understand the reasons why. However this raises a key problem. I am only too aware that the physicians will not be available 24/7 every day of the year to make the medication available, especially in the Xmas/New Year period and Easter. When the patient is ready and experiencing severe distress, it is important to ensure they can access the medication. Therefore there needs to be a provision whereby the approved physician can delegate to another to deliver and if required administer the medication within hours of a request. Can this be addressed?
    Link  •  Reply
    • 26 Nov 2015 9:45 AM | Anonymous
      asfadas
      Link  •  Reply

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