18 May 2013
First off, I am extremely heartened by the groundswell of support for legalised euthanasia, here and throughout the western world. We already have Holland and Switzerland where euthanasia is allowed, and it looks very much like UK is set to join them.
It isn't an ideal, but it's a huge improvement on the current situation, and given Key's low-grade support of the option, there is a chance that the next election will see a similar proposal reach Parliament here. (The retirement and death of the hugely anti-euthanasia Pater Foley, chair of the NZMA won't hurt the chances.) Hopefully, the election will weed out some of the more fairytale loving MPs - people like English (Roman Catholic), Maggie Barry (self-centred maggot), Peter Dunne (evangelical christian) and the rest of them who have a 4000 year-old fictional book as a spiritual adviser.
Mind you, Dunne changed his tune fast enough on the Sky City pokies for event centre deal, so maybe if we institute a tax on euthanasia he will change his mind!
Copyright © Alan Charman