tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post5365730780855621005..comments2024-03-22T11:55:50.335+13:00Comments on Not PC: Supporting voluntary euthanasiaPeter Cresswellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699845031503699181noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-25412905246595413242018-02-20T23:09:45.192+13:002018-02-20T23:09:45.192+13:00Brilliant. Thanks Craig. Your last paragraph is a ...Brilliant. Thanks Craig. Your last paragraph is a blinder.Mark Hubbardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02541153163041831880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-11448669566358362142018-02-20T19:37:33.762+13:002018-02-20T19:37:33.762+13:00Thanks Peter and Mark. Just completed my (partiall...Thanks Peter and Mark. Just completed my (partially plagiarised) submission:<br /><br />I support the end of life choices bill. The key word in this bill is choice. The current law where people are denied the right to end a painful and terminal illness is an appalling state of affairs and this bill does much to rectify it while taking steps to ensure that it is actually the patient's unpressured choice. In response to some of the objections to this bill, I submit the following:<br /><br /><br />1. The current law has the unintended consequence where terminal patients end their lives earlier than they would like because they have to be physically able to do it themselves. This bill allows those patients to extend their lives beyond that point whilst still giving them the opportunity to avoid a painful death.<br /><br />2. There are many doctors and workers – largely silenced – who work in palliative care in New Zealand who would voluntarily offer this service. In fact we all know that there has always been a merciful but unofficial euthanasia practiced in New Zealand. Indeed, another reason for this law is to protect doctors in cases such as this and allow open conversations between the palliative care practitioners and the patient - rather than clandestine back room deals with family members.<br /><br />3. Some of the Members of Parliament who spoke against the first reading of this bill objected on cultural/religious grounds saying that the act of dying made the surviving family stronger - essentially saying that suffering is a virtue. I vehemently disagree. To argue that someone should suffer horrendous pain just so a whanau can go through a bonding experience shows complete moral corruption. Those Members (and this includes the immediate past Prime Minister) whose religious or cultural beliefs have blinded them so much that they would make such an argument should abstain from voting on this bill.Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17939162327111283194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-16188880041715106262018-02-20T10:19:27.991+13:002018-02-20T10:19:27.991+13:00I've been arguing this topic for years. That v...I've been arguing this topic for years. That view re the emotive use of suicide has to be countered because you bet they will use it in submissions.<br /><br />Guarantee you're against euthanasia? Yes?Mark Hubbardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02541153163041831880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-46603047086581033022018-02-20T10:05:59.478+13:002018-02-20T10:05:59.478+13:00> Note I refer to this as voluntary euthanasia ...> Note I refer to this as voluntary euthanasia not assisted suicide. This latter term is used by the against-camp in their emotive – not reasoned – campaign against individuals having choice.<br /><br />Characterising the other side as emotive and unreasonable is a silly debating tactic. They are not some homogeneous group. They are individuals each with their own take on the world and their individual opinions on issues. If you value the truth you need to know the best of their arguments and you also need to try to improve any weaknesses you see in their arguments. If you do not care to do this or do not want to find out, then it is you who are unreasonable. And you will not find truth. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-79805238030400388872018-02-19T20:37:24.057+13:002018-02-19T20:37:24.057+13:00While not my style (too emotive although I'm n...While not my style (too emotive although I'm not as emotionally engaged in this issue as he is) I respect the passion so well done. I hope Mark gets what he wishes for. I think I'd have started at Mark's point 2 and stopped at "law" in line two but that's just me despairing at the political process generally.<br /><br />3:16Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com