Tuesday, 6 June 2017, 5:35 pm Press Release: Right To Life
Belgian Doctor Advocate for Culture of Death Descends on New Zealand
MEDIA RELEASE JUNE 3 2017
Right to Life believes that the community should be wary of doctors who are prepared to kill their patients as a treatment option.A pro euthanasia group has sought the urgent help of retired Belgium Professor Jan Bernheim to address meetings Right to Life believes have been hurriedly arranged in New Zealand to promote the Belgium model of euthanasia. Right to Life believes that the community should be concerned that this speaking tour is disrespectful of our Parliamentary democracy. It is thought that the presence of this advocate for a culture of death is intended to undermine the medical profession in New Zealand and to influence the Parliamentary Health Select Committee which is, at this time finalizing its report to Parliament. The pro-death group is well aware that 77 per cent of the 21,435 submissions are strongly opposed to the law being changed to allow the strong to kill the weak. This opposition is also reflected in the 1,800 oral submissions. We believe that it is his intention to attempt to generate public support for the Belgian model of euthanasia, in opposition to the anticipated report of the Committee.
The community should be aware that Professor Bernheim is in violation of the ethics of the medical profession which he swore to uphold at the time of his graduation, specifically to have the utmost respect for life. The World Medical Association in 2013 declared;
Physicians-assisted suicide, like euthanasia, is unethical and must be condemned by the medical profession. Where the assistance of the physician is intentionally and deliberately directed at enabling an individual to end his or her own life, the physician acts unethically. However the right to decline medical treatment is a basic right of the patient and the physician does not act unethically even if respecting such a wish results in the death of the patient.
This professor claims that New Zealand should follow the Belgium model of euthanasia. There are two studies from the Flanders region of Belgium that display a rampant disregard for the law. In 2007, a study found that 32 percent of assisted deaths were performed without any request and that 47 percent of all assisted deaths were not reported. (See footnote 1) A further study in 2013 revealed that two percent of all deaths were hastened without an explicit request and that 40 percent of hastened deaths were not reported. There has been in Belgium a 500 percent increase in euthanasia in 10 years.
Arguments for euthanasia are founded on terminally ill patients being in intolerable pain. The lie to this is given by the fact that people in Belgium have been killed by a doctor in Belgium for diagnoses that include; depression, fatigue, autism and anorexia.
Assisting in suicide and homicide are serious crimes in the Crimes Act under which laws are in place for the protection of the most vulnerable ,members of our community, the aged, the disabled and the seriously ill. We change these laws at our peril.
Ken Orr
Spokesperson,
Right to Life
Footnote 1 Physician-assisted deaths under the euthanasia law in Belgium: a population-based survey. Chambaere K, Bilsen J, Cohen J, Onwuteaka-Philipsen BD, Mortier F, Deliens L CMAJ. 2010 Jun 15; 182(9):895-901. [PubMed] [Ref list]
Further Reference
Scoop Media
The rest is here:
Belgian Doctor Euthanasia Advocate Descends on NZ - Scoop.co.nz (press release)
- Euthanasia - The New York Times - December 9th, 2016 [December 9th, 2016]
- Euthanasia | Define Euthanasia at Dictionary.com - December 12th, 2016 [December 12th, 2016]
- Taking Life: Humans, by Peter Singer - Utilitarian - December 21st, 2016 [December 21st, 2016]
- Free euthanasia Essays and Papers - 123helpme - December 21st, 2016 [December 21st, 2016]
- Half a Life (Star Trek: The Next Generation) - Wikipedia - January 20th, 2017 [January 20th, 2017]
- Euthanasia | Students for Life - January 24th, 2017 [January 24th, 2017]
- Mass euthanasia rumors prompt adoptions en masse at animal control shelter in Georgia - fox6now.com - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Doctor 'asked family to hold down struggling euthanasia victim ... - Catholic Herald Online - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Doctor who asked dementia patient's family to hold her down while she gave lethal injection cleared - The Independent - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- County animal shelter aggressively working to cut euthanasia rate - ABC15 Arizona - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Once euthanasia is voluntary, it will become irresistible. Just ask the ... - Catholic Herald Online (blog) - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- New Law in Taiwan Halts Euthanasia of Stray Animals - Seeker - Seeker - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Dog food recalled after discovery of euthanasia drug - Detroit Free Press - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Evanger's dog food recalled after euthanasia drug found in one batch - WHIO - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Euthanasia's goals: save money, collect organs - One News Now - OneNewsNow - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- RECALL: Canned dog food has traces of animal euthanasia drug - KUTV 2News - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- US dog food recall after euthanasia drug found - BBC News - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Taiwan bans euthanasia of stray animals - Yahoo - Yahoo News - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Euthanasia reform moves forward in the senate - Deseret News - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Wheeling-based Evanger's recalls dog food found to contain euthanasia drug - Chicago Tribune - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Dog food recalled after euthanasia drug found in can. One dog dead. - Washington Post - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Dog food sold in Minnesota recalled over euthanasia drug - TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Imagining a future with compulsory euthanasia - MercatorNet - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Euthanasia 'Safeguards' Soon Seen as 'Hurdles' - National Review - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Dog food recalled after euthanasia drug found in it - CNN - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Bill to Ban Gas Chamber Euthanasia Moves to the Senate - Good4Utah - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Religion in the courtroom: Neil Gorsuch's faith and writings draw close attention - The Denver Post - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Dutch doctors against euthanasia for advanced dementia patients - NL Times - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Canadian study touts euthanasia's cost 'benefit' - Brnow - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Pug Dies After Eating Dog Food Contaminated With Euthanasia Drug - Huffington Post - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Patients Rights Council - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- New euthanasia debate in Spain - BioEdge - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Labour will not introduce private members bill on euthanasia - Scoop.co.nz (press release) - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- MP's personal story behind euthanasia support - Clarence Valley Daily Examiner - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Could laser therapy help dog owners avoid euthanasia? - 12news.com - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Speaker receives citizens' initiative on legalisation of euthanasia - YLE News - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Euthanasia's march Down Under - Catholic Herald Online (blog) - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Another company issues recall after euthanasia drug found in dog ... - KATU - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Medical Council against euthanasia: 'We don't want youths euthanising their grandparents' - MaltaToday - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- More dog food recalled because it may contain euthanasia drug ... - Q13 FOX - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Law students accuse Medical Council of twisting their euthanasia arguments - MaltaToday - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Hanson, Hinch launch passionate arguments for euthanasia law - Starts at 60 - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Pauline Hanson and Derryn Hinch get riled up about euthanasia - Starts at 60 - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Brigit Forsyth on euthanasia, internet dating and whether she'd consider Likely Lads revival - ChronicleLive - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- FDA confirms euthanasia agent pentobarbital in dog food | Food ... - Food Safety News - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Oregon's Euthanasia Bill Is Intentionally Ambiguous - National Review - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Conservative leaders argued drugs, euthanasia, and fiscal policy in Langley - Langley Advance - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- New German film addresses Nazi child 'euthanasia' - euronews - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- How Did a Euthanasia Drug End Up in Dog Food? - Care2.com - February 21st, 2017 [February 21st, 2017]
- Why euthanasia slippery slopes are inevitable - National Right to Life News - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Oregon's euthanasia bill awash with 'ambiguity' - OneNewsNow - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Adoption center works to reduce euthanasia - The Dominion Post - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- Police stance was to not answer questions over details of euthanasia checkpoint - Stuff.co.nz - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- WA election: Euthanasia, Safe Schools hot topics as Liberal, Labor leaders face Christian voters - ABC Online - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Lessons from indigenous wisdom in the euthanasia debate - MercatorNet - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Dying man gathers his family together for final hours before ... - 9Honey - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Quebec Moves Toward Euthanasia for Alzheimer's | National Review - National Review - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Once Euthanasia Voluntary, It'll Become Irresistible, Ask the Dutch; Real Humility; and More! - National Catholic Register (blog) - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- APA Position on Medical Euthanasia - Psychiatric Times - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- Pike County animal shelter reduces euthanasia rates - WYMT News (press release) - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- BioEdge: Should Quebec's Alzheimer's patients be eligible for ... - BioEdge - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- 45 Rescued Cats and Dogs Are Facing Euthanasia But One Woman is Fighting to Build Them Shelter - One Green Planet - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Minnesota Euthanasia Advocates Introduce Legislation to Legalize ... - LifeNews.com - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Italy: tetraplegic DJ stirs up euthanasia debate by assisted suicide in Switzerland - euronews - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Euthanasia and Alzheimer's: Canada takes a step in the wrong direction - MercatorNet - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Choice is an Illusion President Margaret Dore States Hawaii ... - EconoTimes - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Evanger's expands recall because dog food may contain euthanasia drug - The Seattle Times - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Last Wishes mobile pet euthanasia service adds storefront hospice for pets - Chron.com - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- DJ's assisted suicide stirs up Italy euthanasia debate - BBC News - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- The euthanasia debate is polarised, yet shared concerns unite all sides - The Guardian - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Jagged Vision Streaming "Euthanasia" - Metal Underground - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Paralysed Italian DJ takes own life in Swiss clinic after fruitless euthanasia campaign in his native country - The Independent - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Mane Attraction hosts Beauty to the RESCUE to fight animal euthanasia - 12news.com - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Finnish parliament debates legalising euthanasia - Expatica Netherlands - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Euthanasia Advocate Changes Her Mind After Watching the Euthanasia Deception Documentary - LifeNews.com - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- In places where it's legal, how many people are ending their lives ... - EconoTimes - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- DJ's assisted suicide fuels Italy's euthanasia debate - MercatorNet - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Corgi pit bull with lopsided jaw saved from euthanasia - BBC News - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Euthanasia: What to Expect When Your Dog is Put Down - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Gentle Journey Phoenix Arizona In Home Pet Euthanasia - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]