Response to calls for Assisted Dying law changes after Maurice Gee’s suicide

A call for liberalisation in the End of Life Choice Act is a call to release unstoppable suicide, Voice for Life says.

The Post published an article regarding the death of well known New Zealand author Maurice Gee last month, after he committed suicide in his home in Nelson.

Gee was denied assisted dying because he was not eligible, something he described as a “cruel and intrusive law” in a note he left for his family. His family claims Gee’s death was a tragedy as he had to commit suicide alone.

The news angle was used to reignite debate over the existing End of Life Choice Act and was weaponized for the pro-euthanasia advocates to create pressure for changes to the eligibility criteria. They used a well-regarded public figure to push the agenda - liberalise the law.

At age 93, Gee said he was unsteady on his feet, had several falls lately, and his mind was slowing, making him forgetful. He was fearful of the future. In his opinion, enough suffering to justify ending his own life.

Criteria currently under our current law states an applicant must have a terminal illness that is likely to end their life within six months. 

Gee was denied assisted dying because he did not meet this requirement, the only somewhat restrictive safeguard opposition is now trying to tear down.

“If this safeguard is removed, we will see nearly every adult New Zealander be eligible for assisted suicide and euthanasia, with no way to prevent it,” says Voice For Life National President Lydia Posthuma.

“It will be devastating that people that need care and protection will rather be totally open to receiving help from government to commit suicide.”

Current legislation states the eligibility criteria includes applicants must be 18 or over, be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, be in an advanced state of irreversible decline in physical capability, experience unbearable suffering that cannot be relieved in a manner the person considers tolerable, and be competent to make an informed decision about assisted dying.

While the wording of the act purports to have other safeguards such as “unbearable suffering that can’t be relieved”, and an “advanced state of irreversible decline in physical capability”, the fine print shows these standards are subjective to the patient and contain no real definitive measurements.

2975 Kiwis have applied for the right to die as of March, and of those, 1213 have been successful. Meaning more than half were denied access due to the criteria not being met, the safeguard has held some ground.

“We are absolutely against the removal of any safeguards, the impact will be devastating on Kiwis. In fact, we would like to see our Six to Fix recommendations be included in any law amendments,” Posthuma says.

Voice for Life has a petition circulating with calls for six changes to the law: Require an independent witness, a formal coercion assessment, a mental health assessment, a mandatory cooling-off period, a competency test on the day of death and detailed reporting.

“Our current law is flimsy and embarrassingly weak compared to equivalent laws overseas. The Six to Fix are basic requirements that are already operating in many other countries with this type of law,” Posthuma says.

While any changes to this criteria will have to come through Parliament, advocates for weakening of laws are using “bad death stories” to push for social change to create pressure for politicians.

“What we really need to focus on is helping relieve suffering at the end of people’s lives, and that’s by ensuring people have access to good palliative care, have quality health care choices, and have the support to live well to the end,” Posthuma says.

Maurice Gee’s choice was tragic. But not because he wasn't eligible for assisted dying, rather that he wanted to die when he had life yet still to live.

Sign the Six to Fix petition, visit: Six to Fix: Sign the Petition | #DefendNZ