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“I feel fantastic and it gives me so much love for this country that we have chosen to give people who suffer real choice, control and compassion at the end of their lives,” he told Newshub.
Assisted dying will be accessible to New Zealand citizens and permanent residents over the age of 18 who are terminally ill with six months to live.
They must be experiencing excruciating suffering, be in a state of irreversible deterioration, and be able to make an informed decision about assisted death.
It must be signed by two doctors and if either of them feels that the person is being pressured, the process stops.
Dr. Sinead Donnelly, a palliative care specialist who spoke out against the bill, is devastated.
“Yes, extremely disappointing,” Donnelly told Newshub. “But the people of New Zealand have spoken through their vote.”
Those who fought so hard for the ‘yes’ vote are celebrating, including Lecretia Seales’ family. His fight in Superior Court for the right to die inspired the bill. She lost the case and died shortly after.
His widower Matt Vickers has continued to fight.
“We won, and what a fantastic result too,” he told the group of supporters in Parliament via video call. “New Zealanders have shown once again that they are kind, compassionate and caring.”
His mother Shirley Seales is proud.
“We are very proud of Lectretia and I am sure it is smiling at all of us.”
It’s been a long road. Frank Dungey is a founding member of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society which was established in 1978.
“I didn’t think it would take 42 years,” Dungey told Newshub.
Former National MP Michael Laws and former Labor MP Maryan Street also tried to introduce a law, and both were there to celebrate Friday.
“Quite euphoric,” Street said.
“Yes, I think we are,” Laws agreed. “It is a great result when you get two thirds of the country, it is decisive. There is no doubt.”
“There is no going back in any way,” Street added.
Seymour’s bill was drafted in 2015. It was removed from the ballot two years later and, after the longest parliamentary selection committee process in history, it was finally passed before being handed over to Kiwis for decision. .
“A kinder, more compassionate and humane society,” Seymour said after the public voted to pass the law. “What a great day to be a Kiwi.”
This was a binding referendum to make euthanasia legal; It has already passed through Parliament and has been in shape. But it doesn’t go into effect immediately, that won’t happen for 12 months.
In that time, a lot of work must be done to establish the practical framework for euthanasia, things like making lists of doctors who will participate and setting up a review committee.
So while there are reasons for your activists to celebrate, there is still a way to go.
