We’ve just published our latest findings in this Euthanasia Fact Sheet on Global Trends.
As state-assisted suicide is normalised, international evidence reveals a disturbing trend.
Of a total of 252 jurisdictions worldwide, only 24 allow some combination of euthanasia and assisted dying. These jurisdictions are the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Colombia, Canada, Portugal, Germany, New Zealand; the US states of Oregon, Montana, Washington, Vermont, California, Hawaii, New Jersey, Maine, and the District of Columbia; the Australian states of Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia.
This means that euthanasia or assisted dying is legal in only about 10 per cent of jurisdictions worldwide.
In this latest Fact Sheet we publish our findings for Canada, Netherlands, Belgium, the US state of Oregon, and Victoria Australia and, of course, New Zealand.
Euthanasia in New Zealand
In New Zealand, in just three years, we have already had over one thousand people terminate their life early. This is far more than the ‘tens’ a year that were suggested by pro-euthanasia advocates when arguing for a law change.
We are also hearing calls – as has happened overseas – to expand the law. This includes:
- widening what medical conditions are included (beyond just terminal diseases)
- how long before you are expected to die (to extend beyond six months)
- removing a protective requirement that limits the ability of medical professionals to publicly discuss euthanasia so that medical professionals can raise the option of euthanasia
- removal of conscientious objection from medical and health professionals as well as facilities like hospices, plus discussions about allowing eligibility for mental illness.
There is concrete evidence from the countries which have introduced euthanasia that the availability and application of euthanasia expands to situations not initially envisaged.
When a newly permitted activity is characterised as a ‘human right’, the overseas experience is that there is an inevitable push to extend such a ‘right’ to a greater number of people, such as those with chronic conditions, disabilities, mental illness, those simply ‘tired of life’ or even children.
There’s also the elephant in the room. The End of Life Choice Act only provides a ‘right’ to one choice – premature death. There is no corresponding right to palliative care. Good palliative care and hospice services are resource intensive: euthanasia would be cheaper.
There is a new element of ‘financial calculation’ into decisions about end-of-life care. This is a harsh reality.
At an individual level, the economically disadvantaged who don’t have access to better healthcare could feel pressured to end their lives because of the cost factor or because other better choices are not available to them.
Conclusion
One of our concerns expressed during the recent euthanasia debate and referendum was the reality that terminally ill people are vulnerable to direct and indirect pressure from family, caregivers and medical professionals, as well as self-imposed pressure.
They may come to feel euthanasia would be ‘the right thing to do’; they’ve ‘had a good innings’; or do not want to be a ‘burden’ to their nearest and dearest. It is virtually impossible to detect subtle emotional coercion, let alone overt coercion, at the best of times.
Because we’ve legalised it, we’ve normalised it.
No longer is the option of euthanasia ‘off the table’ in New Zealand. It’s clearly on the table and being served up to look like a fine meal, when, in reality, it is just about bringing about premature death and putting the vulnerable at greater risk. Similar to the slippery slope trends we see unfolding overseas, there are more attempts here in New Zealand to expand the End of Life Choice Act. This will allow even more vulnerable people to qualify for the state to help end their lives.
So please download this Euthanasia Fact Sheet on Global Trends.
This article was originally published by Family First New Zealand.
