New Zealand doctor calls for euthanasia drug to be made available in pharmacies
‘If you’re aged over 18 and you sign a form of consent, then people should be able to make that choice and we leave this issue at that,’ says medical specialist
By Carla Penman
An Auckland medical specialist argues making a drug to assist dying available in pharmacies would be far easier to manage than bringing in legislation.
Dr Stephen Child has spoken to NZH Focus about his view on ACT MP David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Bill that passed its first reading in Parliament in December.
It will legalise assisted dying in cases where individuals have a terminal illness that is likely to end his or her life within six months.
Dr Child says the conversation isn’t really as much about opposed or supportive of euthanasia but whether it can be a perfectly written piece of legislation that gives the rights to those who want to end their life, without causing harm to people.
He says he’s particularly concerned about the concept of “vulnerable people” under the bill.