Euthanasia bill drawn from the ballot

Stuff reports:

MPs will be forced to vote on whether or not euthanasia should be legal, after the End of Life Choice bill was drawn from Parliament’s ballot. 

A bill to legalise the use of medicinal cannabis if prescribed by a medical practitioner, was also pulled for debate. 

The euthanasia bill, by ACT leader David Seymour, has laid dormant in the House’s infamous biscuit tin since 2015. …

While euthanasia would be a conscience vote – meaning MPs would vote individually, rather than along part lines – it was a political landmine both Key and Opposition leader Andrew Little had gone to lengths in the past to avoid. 

Now the bill has been drawn from ballot box, it was out of the Government’s hands. 

I’m glad the bill was drawn. I think most people want to see Parliament vote on this issue. It is not an abstract issue, but something that is very real and painful and poignant for many families.

I have an archive of public polls on euthanasia at Curia.

My personal view is that so long as you have strong safeguards, people of sound mind should be able to seek assistance to end their lives if they are in terrible pain and suffering.