The third and final reading of the End of Life Choice Bill has been passed in Parliament by 69 votes to 51.<\/p>\n
Protesters against the Euthanasia Bill gather outside Parliament. Photo: RNZ \/ Dom Thomas<\/p>\n
The member's bill, in the name of ACT leader David Seymour, allows terminally ill adults to request a medically-assisted death.<\/p>\n
It cleared its second reading 70 votes to 50 in June and easily passed tonight after impassioned debate.<\/p>\n
However, it will still take a majority referendum result at next year's General Election before the legislation can be enacted.<\/p>\n
There were passionate speeches both for and against the bill and holding a referendum.<\/p>\n
Of those opposed, National MP Chris Penk warned against the bill going to a public poll.<\/p>\n
\"Is it responsible for us as lawmakers to hand a loaded gun to fellow New Zealanders and say 'don't worry I have applied the safety catch?', knowing very well that for many New Zealanders the only words of the bill they will ever read before such a referendum will be the title of the bill,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Penk told the house polling showed 70 percent of the public, believed the bill concerns itself with orders not to resuscitate, which are already legal.<\/p>\n
He added 74 percent thought to switch off life support is within the remit of the bill.<\/p>\n
But New Zealand First MP Tracey Martin defended the bill going to a referendum.<\/p>\n
\"Because it is such an unusual topic of such a momentous decision for New Zealand we agree that it is right and proper our consciences, which I hear the words of others who talk about the tyranny of the majority, surely this would be the dictatorship of the minority.\"<\/p>\n
Ms Martin told the house the New Zealand public voted MPs to Parliament on party manifestos rather than their individual consciences.<\/p>\n
On the front lawn of Parliament this afternoon a protest group of a few hundred people brandished signs opposing the legislation - \"caring not killing\", and referring to the Bill's \"weak safeguards\".<\/p>\n
Protesters against the Euthanasia Bill gather outside Parliament. Photo: RNZ \/ Dom Thomas<\/p>\n
Labour list MP Jamie Strange told the crowd MPs from across the House would support them in their opposition.<\/p>\n
National's Alfred Ngaro, a list MP, told them the Bill was going ahead despite the direct opposition of thousands of New Zealanders, including some in the medical community - \"still, here we are today\".<\/p>\n
He encouraged them to \"keep the faith because there are those who believe that this is wrong\".<\/p>\n
National MP Dr Shane Reti had asked the House, as a medical practitioner and a Mori, to vote against the end of Life Choice Bill.<\/p>\n
Shane Reti had said the bill would change the very fabric of the doctor-patient relationship.<\/p>\n
Before the vote, Mr Seymour had said he was \"quietly confident\" the Bill would pass, but would continue working for votes up to the last minute.<\/p>\n
\"We've had the arguments - I don't think anyone will ever be able to say that Parliament didn't properly scrutinise this bill,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"It's been nearly two years since the parliamentary process started. And over that time we've kicked around every conceivable argument for and against the bill.\"<\/p>\n
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Original post: <\/p>\n
Final euthanasia bill reading begins in Parliament - RNZ<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The third and final reading of the End of Life Choice Bill has been passed in Parliament by 69 votes to 51. Continue reading