Standing for something

In his valedictory speech on Tuesday, departing Green MP Kevin Hague urged political parties not to dodge important issues like death with dignity, adoption reform, and drug decriminalisation, but to be brave and stand for something. Today, the Greens are just that, releasing a medically assisted dying policy:

“Adults with a terminal illness should have the right to choose a medically assisted death,” Green Party health spokesperson Kevin Hague said.

“The Green Party does not support extending assisted dying to people who aren't terminally ill because we can’t be confident that this won't further marginalise the lives of people with disabilities.

“This policy outlines the medical and ethical safeguards that need to be put in place to ensure that people who choose a medically-assisted death are making that choice freely and of their own accord.

The full policy is here, and its exactly what you'd expect from the Greens: sensible and in step with modern New Zealand. The question now is whether any other parties will follow suit, or whether they will continue to be chickenshits for fear of offending a dying fundamentalist minority.