Not surprised at these results given my audience. I’m going to talk about Euthanasia for a while. It has really bad ramifications for those who live with disability. This is not a question of if the law specifically is good or bad but how it can do some awful things... 1/ https://twitter.com/roryreckons/status/1301599873855184896

I’ll start out by saying I was diehard in support. My view was yes, let people die with dignity, and I still believe the concept of euthanasia and the right to die when you want to with a terminal condition. Watching my Dad suffer through Alzheimer’s was not a great experience.2/

The experience of disabled people in this area is not also black and white, some are in favour, some are against. Ethics is kind of my thing, and harm minimisation is my ultimate goal. This is the lens in which I view all things. I’m going to include some academic review texts.3/

From disabled experience there appears to be a lot of evidence that disabled people might chose this option simply because austerity measures do not provide quality of life. They would have continued living having adequate support. 4/

The most damning indictment spoke about jurisdictions where euthanasia has been legalised and how they fundamentally changed society afterwards. I’ll include the conclusion here.
“While euthanasia and assisted suicide (PAS) may appear attractive, on the surface,... 5/

they have profound adverse effects in shaping society, in our attitude towards death and illness and in our attitude towards the sick or disabled.

Legalizing euthanasia would put immense pressure on the elderly or ill and on those who feel that due to illness, disability or...6/

or due to expensive treatment, they have become a burden to society and especially to their relatives. ‘The right to die’ will soon become ‘the duty to die.’

With the increasing acceptance of euthanasia or assisted suicide, there will be a change in the perception of... 7

illness, death and medical treatment. Similarly, euthanasia, once legalized, will become a ‘treatment’ option for those who are diagnosed with a disease, not necessarily incurable, and who consider themselves ill.

It is always cheaper (and quicker) to kill than to treat. 8/

The legalization of euthanasia would undermine medical care and especially palliative care. Where euthanasia was legalized (for example in the Netherlands or in Oregon) the provision of palliative care appears simple and inadequate. 9/

The legalization of euthanasia will adversely affect the doctor-patient relationship. Despite all possible precautions, patients will be wondering if the doctor is wearing the white coat of the healer or the black coat of the executioner.” 10/

The ramifications of legalisation of this area and the threats faced from austerity will make this incredibly bad policy. Until a higher level of equitable society is achieved, this measure will be used in an implicitly coercive manner. Due to this. I implore you to vote no.

You might want to ask why it’s ACT who pushed for this so hard. Given their general positions on fiscal measures.

People whom are voting yes, I understand and respect you are not doing it to spite people. This is complicated, but I did want to offer context and reasoning for some who haven’t heard any other arguments. I don’t want people to suffer, I hate the idea.