“The trial of Susan Austen shows New Zealand needs an assisted dying law with carefully designed safeguards”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
“While the person Ms Austen is accused of assisting to die would not have been eligible under my End of Life Choice Bill, the case reminds us that between 5 and 8 percent of suicides are by people who are dying and want to take control of the end of their life.
“It is wrong that we tolerate a status quo where people suffer needlessly.
“We allow violent amateur suicide, barbaric suffering, and informal euthanasia, while preventing a person who is suffering at the end of their life to make their choice safeguarded under the rule of law.
“The current situation is an absurdity.
“It is possible for us to design a law that gives choice to those who want it while safeguarding those who want nothing to do with it”, says Mr Seymour.