The architect of New Zealand’s euthanasia law is pushing to broaden the legislation barely a year after the practice was legalised. The current law allows euthanasia or assisted suicide for those over 18 years old with a terminal illness, experiencing “unbearable suffering”, and “likely” to die within six months. In the first year after legalisation, 214 patients were killed under the law and 120 applications were deemed ineligible. Calls to expandAct Party leader David Seymour, who drafted the original legislation, now says the law should be relaxed to increase the number of eligible people. During the parliamentary process the Bill was tightened from its original, broader form, which would have given access to euthanasia to non-terminal patients with conditions deemed “grievous and irremediable”.

Source: New Zealand Herald November 18, 2022 14:36 UTC