Doctors are Saying No to Assisted Suicide in New Zealand.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Dr Sinead Donnelly

New Zealand is having a referendum on euthanasia as part of its October 17 federal election.

Doctors say no is an Open Letter to New Zealanders by doctors supporting the World Medical Association and New Zealand Medical Association position statements that euthanasia and assisted suicide are unethical, even if they become legal.

Doctors say no have more than 1750 signatures from New Zealand doctors for a letter to New Zealand citizens opposing euthanasia and assisted suicide. The letter states:

We are committed to the concept of death with dignity and comfort, including the provision of effective pain relief and excellence in palliative care.

We endorse the views of the World Medical Association and the New Zealand Medical Association that physician assisted suicide and euthanasia are unethical, even if they were made legal.

We uphold the right of patients to decline treatment, as set out in the NZ Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights.

We know that the proper provision of pain relief, even if it may unintentionally hasten the death of the patient, is ethical and legal. Equally the withdrawal or withholding of futile treatment in favour of palliative care is ethical and legal.

We believe that crossing the line to intentionally assist a person to die would fundamentally weaken the doctor-patient relationship which is based on trust and respect.

We are especially concerned with protecting vulnerable people who can feel they have become a burden to others, and we are committed to supporting those who find their own life situations a heavy burden.

Doctors are not necessary in the regulation or practice of assisted suicide. They are included only to provide a cloak of medical legitimacy. Leave doctors to focus on saving lives and providing real care to the dying.

‘Doctors say no’ is an Open Letter to all New Zealanders by doctors supporting the World Medical Association and New Zealand Medical Association position statements that euthanasia and assisted suicide are unethical, even if they were to become legal.

More articles on the New Zealand euthanasia referendum.

• New Zealand End of Life Choices Act would lead to many, not a few assisted deaths (Link).
• New Zealand End of Life Choices Act is not what it claims to be (Link).
• Claire Freeman was encouraged by the suicide outreach clinic to consider assisted suicide (Link).