Euthanasia bill deemed unsafe and at odds with Māori

National MP Harete Hipango

Whanganui MP Harete Hipango says David Seymour's End of Life Choice Bill is unsafe and will make society's most vulnerable even more vulnerable.

The bill which comes up for its second reading today, and Māori MOPs across the political parties are divided on where there conscience votes will go.

Ms Hipango says she will be driven by the values she has been shaped by from te ao Māori, her faith-based background and her legal background.

"I’ve worked in the area of criminal law, family law, mental health law, youth justice law, child advocacy for 30 years. This law as it is drafted is so unsafe, exposing our most vulnerable to become more vulnerable because of the mechanisms in place. It’s just unsafe legislation," she says.

Ms Hipango says there is no acknowledgement of any Māori perspective in the bill, and the decision about end of life is made by two medical practitioners without any requirement to consult with whānau as would be expected in a traditional Māori situation
 

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