NEW ZEALAND PASSES EUTHANASIA BILL

[sman]

NEW ZEALAND PASSES EUTHANASIA BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE WITH TERMINAL DISEASES TO END THEIR LIVES

"https://www.newsweek.com/new-zealand-passes-euthanasia-bill-that-would-allow-people-terminal-diseases-end-their-lives-1471631"

After two years of public debate, New Zealand lawmakers passed a bill permitting voluntary euthanasia. Before the bill goes into effect, a national referendum is planned, according to Deutsche Welles.

Should it pass the referendum, the bill will allow patients with less than six months to live to seek assisted suicide. Patients must have been diagnosed with terminal and incurable medical conditions.

Originally introduced in 2017, the End of Life Choice Bill passed with 69 votes over 51. Bill sponsor David Seymour told Parliament he had listened to people across New Zealand talk about their experiences with death, reported the New Zealand Herald.