Coroner is acting irresponsibly in calling for Parliament to “confront” the “vexed issue of euthanasia”

“The Wellington Regional Coroner Ian Smith is acting irresponsibly in failing to recognise the real dangers of lethal elder abuse,” says Bernard Moran, national president of Voice for Life Inc.“Coroner Ian Smith is within his coronial rights to describe Edna Gluyas’s death as suicide or euthanasia, but to call for Parliament to yet again confront euthanasia is simply irresponsible in the light of what we now know about widespread elder abuse in New Zealand.“Experienced family lawyers have advised us of the real risk posed to vulnerable and frail elderly mothers and fathers by unscrupulous family members who seek to prevent their inheritance being affected by rest home charges.“They pressure lawyers to do something to protect their inheritance.“The inference is clear that if assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia were ever legalised by Parliament, elder abuse of the frail and vulnerable would soon become lethal.“The Wellington Coroner may be within his rights to advocate changes to the law, but he is displaying tunnel vision in not recognising the serious danger implicit in his public statement.”Bernard MoranNational President of Voice for Life IncPhL 09 443 0995Mob: 021 934424