‘It’s a major shift in public policy’

NZ Herald 7 June 2015
Euthanasia-Free NZ has welcomed the court ruling on Lecretia Seales’ bid to allow a doctor to help her die.

The group said it commended Justice David Collins on upholding the law, and agreed legislative change is the role of parliament, not the courts.

Ms Seales died on Friday morning, shortly after learning that a judge ruled her doctor could not assist her to end her life without risk of prosecution.

Renee Joubert, executive officer of Euthanasia-Free NZ, said she was relieved to read that Ms Seales had died comfortably, relatively quickly, and surrounded by loved ones — “not the long, painful death she feared”.

“The legalisation of voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide is not merely a matter of individual choice and should not be based on individual tragic cases,” Ms Joubert said.

“It’s a major shift in public policy, with wider implications and unintended consequences for all of society that need to be carefully considered.”
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