Change law, says euthanasia supporter | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

Wairarapa euthanasia advocate Neil Frances says people should not "have to slaughter themselves to end a miserable existence".

Mr Frances, a historian, has added his voice to the euthanasia debate as a new study by Research New Zealand, which polled 500 people aged over 15 on whether euthanasia should be legalised, revealed that 47 per cent supported assisted suicide and 44 per cent were opposed to it.

Support for euthanasia was highest among older age groups - 39 per cent of 15 to 34-year-olds felt that assisted suicide should be permitted but more than 51 per cent of those aged 35 and over were in favour of the proposal.

"Older people have a greater sense of their own mortality. They're thinking about what their health future might be," Mr Frances said.

Mr Frances also suspected figures could be skewed in the recording of suicides for those over 65.

"I suspect that, particularly for older people, these statistics are counted as suicides but - although I can't prove it - I think it's likely that a fair proportion of that age-group may have ended their lives by what we would call voluntary euthanasia."

In 2000, 11 men over 80 were recorded as having committed suicide - a statistic Mr Frances greets with scepticism.

"What's the likelihood of a healthy man in his 80s committing suicide?"

He said the 2003 Death With Dignity Bill - narrowly defeated at its first reading - was restrictive, conservative and blinkered by legislators who "were not brave or humane enough to pass the bill into law. Many opposing appeared to have religious reasons".

Mr Frances' 89-year-old father Len died in May and his death prompted him to write a letter to the Times-Age outlining his advocacy for euthanasia.

Mr Frances said of his father: "In his last year he was ready to die and he did actually say that.

"In my view, it really comes down to being legally able to make a choice and not be hindered by the law or medical profession to make that choice."

A 2003 survey of doctors showed a third had taken measures that would lead to a quicker death, a trend Mr Frances said was supported by anecdotal evidence.

"Why should assisted suicide only be through a sympathetic and sensible doctor?" he said.

Mr Frances said he wanted the right "to legally end my life when I have had enough of it. I expect to make that decision while of sound mind.

"But in the case of developing a condition which prevents a rational decision, I would previously appoint someone to make a decision on my behalf."

He said the issue was one of quality of life, noting the frequency with which eulogies mention the deceased as having a "happy release" in death.

Father Donald Morrison, of Featherston's St Teresa of Avila Catholic church, said his faith did not support euthanasia.

"For the church, life is a very precious thing given by God. I can understand the emotional background of people seeing suffering but euthanasia would be out for us, really, it contradicts the sanctity of life," he said.

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