Euthanasia has been debated in New Zealand for a number of years. The Auckland Voluntary Euthanasia Society began campaigning for the first time in 1978.[i] Since then, the debate over euthanasia has grown as the number of euthanasia cases has increased. The first significantly publicized case of euthanasia in New Zealand came when Lesley Martin attempted to murder her mother in 1999. The conviction only occurred after publication of the book, ‘To die like a dog” a mother, daughter, a promise kept’, in which Martin claimed to have made two attempts to kill her mother.[ii] Martin served half of her 15-month jail sentence after being convicted in 2004.[iii] Martin’s case is typical of people who are faced with loved ones who are suffering with a painful death. Jo Martin, Lesley Martins mother, had been diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. She was suffering from vomiting, dehydration, bleeding from her kidneys as well as bleeding into a colostomy bag.[iv] Lesley Martin stated that she did not want her mother to die “inch by inch” as her grandparents had done. “I promised her I wouldn’t let that happen.”[v] Lesley Martin’s case highlights the fundamental reasons why this law needs to be changed. It is incomprehensible that we must deny our love ones the self-autonomy of ending their own lives when faced with extreme pain and suffering. It is widely accepted that if we have a pet dying of cancer, and that pet is in extreme pain, then we automatically think the human thing to do would be to put that pet down. We do not want that pet, or even any animal, be it domesticated or wild, to suffer a prolonged painful death. If we did, we would be breaking the law and possibly face imprisonment. Yet it is absurd when we transfer this to human suffering, like in the case of Lesley Martin and her mother, then it is illegal, and considered by some to be morally wrong.Martin has since become New Zealand’s biggest advocator for euthanasia becoming a co-trustee of the Dignity NZ Trust, which is a registered charitable trust with the aim of legalizing euthanasia and of initiating network of “Dignity Havens.”[vi] The aim of this, as stated by the trust’s website is to:
“Provide optimum palliative care along with a safe, supported and legal environment in which to consider and, if so chosen, receive an assisted death under robust and safe-guarded legislation”
Lesley Martin has, like so many who have been put in this position, become a campaigner for the legalization of euthanasia in order to prevent other people being prosecuted for showing compassion towards a loved ones last wishes.
The most recent case in the New Zealand media that has reignited the euthanasia debate, and a proponent of euthanasia on the same grounds to which I have just stated, was Doctor John Pollock. Pollock was suffering from a metastatic melanoma and recently passed away at the time of writing this policy proposal. Pollock was able to take advantage of his situation and bring the debate about euthanasia back into mainstream media. The fundamental argument for the legalization of euthanasia employed by Pollock was based on the principle of self-autonomy. Pollock describes the current law as cruel and outdated. “I don’t think it is fair or it is moral for somebody else to suggest that they know better and that they have the right to determine that you may not be helped to die.”[vii] Pollock also addresses the comfort in just knowing the option of euthanasia would bring to sufferers. He sights examples of people in the Netherlands who are often comforted by the fact that if their position gets significantly worse they have the option to end their own lives. Most in this position are not euthanized, but are happier in their final months, weeks and days because of its availability.[viii]
I have used these two individuals in this policy proposal for three reasons. First, what they stand and argue for is precisely what this report is seeking to achieve. Secondly, both provide examples of the two groups of people who are most effected by this issue. Lesley Martin was the concerned daughter of a mother her was suffering a slow and painful death and wanted to prevent this from happening. In the case of John Pollock, it was he himself who would have benefited directly from the use of euthanasia, providing he wanted it. Thirdly, the use of these two cases was used to reinforce just how close to home this issue is. These people are fellow New Zealanders who could easily be us one day. This issue is one that will undoubtedly touch each one of us to some degree or another, and Lesley Martin and John Pollock are examples in how relevant this policy is to all New Zealanders. As people such as Pollock and Martin come forward to the media and openly discuss the issue of euthanasia, the likelihood that one day it will become legalized is increased. In 2003 Doctor Phillip Nitschke, who is an Australian advocator of Euthanasia, opened a branch of his pro-euthanasia group ‘Exit’ in Wellington. He has since returned a number of times to New Zealand to talk about euthanasia, and has stated he believes that a legislative breakthrough has greater chances of occurring in New Zealand than in Australia.[ix]
[i] “Voluntary Euthanasia Society”, The Need for Voluntary Euthanasia, found at http://www.ves.org.nz/ [accessed October 20, 2010].
[ii] Lesley, Martin, “To die like a dog” a mother, daughter, a promise kept, (New Zealand: W.J Deed Printing Ltd, 2002).
[iii] http://www.life.org.nz/euthanasia/abouteuthanasia/nzeuthanasiahistory5/
[iv] “The Lesley martin Story”, a New Zealand Resource for Life Related Issues, found at http://www.life.org.nz/euthanasia/abouteuthanasia/nzeuthanasiahistory5/ [accessed October 19, 2010].
[v] “The Lesley martin Story”, a New Zealand Resource for Life Related Issues, found at http://www.life.org.nz/euthanasia/abouteuthanasia/nzeuthanasiahistory5/ [accessed October 19, 2010].
[vi] Robinson, ‘A painful truth’, 80-86
[vii] Elizabeth King, “Dying GP’s last wish: Legalise euthanasia.” New Zealand Herald, July 21, 2010, found at http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10660173 [accessed September 13, 2010].
[viii] John Pollock, “Dying GP’s plea for euthanasia, New Zealand Herald, July 7, 2010, found at http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10660243 [accessed September 12, 2010].
[ix] Ian Dowbiggin, A Concise Choice of Euthanasia: Life, Death, God, and Medicine, (USA: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2007), 149.