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American College of Physicians Opposes Assisted Suicide

By NZHPA
November 30, 2017
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Excellent. The American College of Physicians, after studying the issue, has issued a policy statement against the legalization of assisted suicide. From the ACP Position Paper: Society’s goal should be to make dying less, not more, medical. Physician-assisted suicide is neither a therapy nor a solution to difficult questions raised at the end of life. On the basis of substantive ethics, clinical practice, policy, and other concerns, the ACP does not support …Read More

APHN statement on our stand against the deliberate ending of life

By NZHPA
November 23, 2017
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The Asia Pacific Hospice and Palliative Care Network promotes access to good-quality hospice and palliative care for all in the Asia Pacific region. We value every moment of life and do not support any action that has the intention of shortening a person’s life. Restoring dignity and enhancing quality of life is the basis of palliative care. We do not support the deliberate ending of life and we view with …Read More

NZHPA: Submission to the Health Select Committee Investigation into Ending One’s Life in New Zealand

By NZHPA
November 23, 2017
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The New Zealand Health Select Committee conducted an inquiry into ‘Ending One’s Life in New Zealand’ between June 2015 and February 2016. The Select Committee investigated 1) factors that contribute to the desire to end one’s life, 2) the effectiveness of services and support available to those who desire to end their own lives, 3) the attitudes of New Zealanders towards the ending of one’s life and the current legal …Read More

I won’t intentionally help my patients to end their lives

By NZHPA
November 20, 2017
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Originally published in The Age, 9 October 2017 by Marion Harris Most patients with incurable cancer battle to the end. They exhaust all evidence-based active treatment options and clinical trials before being told that supportive care measures are now best. A request to die is uncommon, and is often driven by poorly controlled pain or nausea, as well as fear, loss of function and hopelessness. Usually when pain and other …Read More

Dear Canada, Respect for Conscience is Fundamental to Health Care

By NZHPA
March 18, 2016
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Rachael Wong is a lawyer from Auckland who is currently working as a legal consultant with the Law Reform Commission in Samoa. She has recently completed a Master of Bioethics and Health Law for which she wrote her dissertation on freedom of conscience in health care. She maintains that a health professional’s exercise of conscience is inseparable from their delivery of health care. Writing for First Things, Wesley J. Smith …Read More

A Good Death is a Gift

By NZHPA
February 15, 2016
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Dr Samantha Murton, an NZHPA member and General Practitioner from Wellington, reflects on a recent death in her family. I was busily involved in our own personal experience of a gracious death with my Mother-in-Law. If I could say something now to the Health Select Committee on its Investigation into the Ending of One’s Life, it would be this. Knowing all that I know as a health professional, it was …Read More

You Don’t Discourage Suicide by Assisting Suicide

By NZHPA
January 29, 2016
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Caroline Downey is a Kiwi currently based in London. In her submission to the Health Select Committee on the investigation into ending one’s life in New Zealand, she writes “we have to start talking about the problem of suicide in New Zealand – not the need for assisted suicide.” I oppose any legalisation of euthanasia or assisted suicide in New Zealand. On the 19th of October 2015, The Guardian published …Read More

Palliative Care is Everyone’s Business

By NZHPA
January 26, 2016
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Dr Lucia Mitchell is a General Practitioner and Palliative Care Doctor who works in Richmond, Nelson, New Zealand. She shares with us her submission to the Health Select Committee on the investigation into ending one’s life in New Zealand. I oppose any legalisation of euthanasia or assisted suicide in New Zealand. Death has in many ways been distanced from our daily lives and has become foreign, unfamiliar and feared. Health …Read More

Doctors Say No to Assisted Suicide

By NZHPA
December 14, 2015
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The NZHPA strongly encourages all New Zealand doctors to sign the Open Letter published by the Care Alliance opposing medical involvement in euthanasia and assisted suicide. The Care Alliance’s press release and Open Letter are re-published below: Wednesday, 9 December 2015, 3:47 pm Press Release: Care Alliance Doctors say no to assisted suicide New Zealand doctors are being invited to add their name to an Open Letter rejecting medical involvement …Read More

Some Inspiration for Your Submission

By NZHPA
November 25, 2015
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Want to make a submission to the Health Select Committee on the investigation into ending one’s life in New Zealand, but not sure where to start? Carolyn Moynihan, a journalist who supports the work of NZHPA, has written this excellent submission: 8 November 2015 Submission on: The investigation into ending one’s life in NZ To: The Health Select Committee From: Carolyn Moynihan I wish to make the following general comments: …Read More