Euthanasia is a very complex issue that has been debated for a number of years, both internationally and in New Zealand. It is an issue that is concerned with death, which is an inevitable part of life. It is the ambition of most people to lead a long and fulfilled life. A life one can look back on and be proud of. It is generally accepted that a person, provided they live within the law and do not harm others, may be granted self-determination to peruse the lifestyle, which they feel is most fulfilling to them. This same right of self-determination is taken away from individuals however, when due to a terminal illness, they no longer feel they have the same quality of life they would define as acceptable, and would prefer death, than to continue a life of suffering.
I believe euthanasia is an issue that shows love for those we care about. This is achieved by not prolonging any unnecessary suffering. Allowing those dying to share their final moments with friends and family free of pain, pity and despair, and instead, full of love and tenderness. None of us want to see anybody suffer, and particularly those close to us. Many will argue however, that if we allow euthanasia to be legalized it will set us down a slippery slope, add extra pressure to those who are dying to end their own lives, and jeopardize the trust between doctors and their patients. . The goal of this policy report is therefore to confront all of these arguments, and if not persuade, at least show people who are against euthanasia the benefits it would add to our society. This policy proposal will advocate for the legalization of two forms of euthanasia; voluntary active euthanasia (VAE), and physician-assisted euthanasia (PAS).[i]
As Michael Mintrom stated in his book, Contemporary Policy Analysis, and during the Public Policy Class 701, the advancement of human rights is one of the key objectives of government policy making.[ii] The legalization of euthanasia will advance human rights as we give those suffering comfort in the knowledge that they have the power to end their suffering on their own terms. ‘Human flourishing’, also mentioned by Mintrom, is part of the reason why governments do what they do.[iii] This policy in my opinion will advance ‘human flourishing’. It may seem paradoxical that a policy proposal to end lives would do this. However, I believe the sense of security and knowledge to dying victims and families that they have the option of euthanasia, would add to this definition of ‘human flourishing.’
This policy report will first identify the audience this report is targeted towards, and explain why. It will then clarify the meaning of euthanasia, as the confusion around the meaning of the word is often responsible for its misunderstanding. This report will then identify euthanasia as it has been seen in New Zealand. It will use two contrasting cases to achieve this. Lesley Martin who was convicted of attempting to murder her mother in 1999, will be used to highlight the position family members of dying loved ones are often confronted with. Doctor John Pollock will then be used to identify the position of individuals with a terminal illness, and how legalization of euthanasia would benefit them. Two instances when euthanasia has come close to being decriminalized in New Zealand in 1995 and 2003 will then be briefly discussed. The final paragraph on euthanasia in New Zealand will discuss public support for its legalization through the use of surveys. This paragraph will also highlight how doctors are currently euthanizing patients, further reinforcing the need for its decriminalization to provide a transparent and regulated environment for both doctors and patients. The next paragraph will use an institutional comparative analysis to understand euthanasia in the Netherlands. The Netherlands was the first country in the world to decriminalize euthanasia. An analysis of the Netherlands allows for better understanding of how they have implemented euthanasia, and the effects that euthanasia has had on Dutch society. It also allows New Zealand to be in a unique position. New Zealand has proven itself to be a world leader in the area of public policy and the legalization of euthanasia will allow this trend to continue. Using the Netherlands as a case study allows for New Zealand to learn and improve on how the Dutch have dealt with the issue of euthanasia. The following section will respond to criticism of the legalization of euthanasia, focusing on the ‘slippery slope’ argument and the idea that the legalization of euthanasia would diminish doctor patient trust. This policy report will conclude with three recommendations for the legalization of euthanasia.
[i] John Keown, Euthanasia, Ethics and Public Policy: An Argument against Legalization, (United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 2002), 9
[ii] Michael Mintrom, Contemporary Policy Analysis, (New York: Oxford University press, 2011), 65.
[iii] Mintrom, Contemporary Policy Analysis, 57.