Media releases
Click here for media releases issued by the Care Alliance.
Members
The Care Alliance brings together organisations and individuals who want to nurture better conversations about dying in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Our members come from many different backgrounds, interests, and experiences. While we might not agree with each other on other issues, we share an understanding that a compassionate and ethical response to suffering does not include euthanasia and assisted suicide.
ANZSPM Aotearoa
The Australian & New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine is a specialty medical society for medical practitioners who provide care for people with a life threatening illness.
(a) The discipline of Palliative Medicine does not include the practice of euthanasia or assisted suicide;
(b) ANZSPM endorses the World Medical Association Resolution on Euthanasia, adopted by the 53rd WMA General Assembly, Washington, DC, USA, October 2002, which states:
“The World Medical Association reaffirms its strong belief that euthanasia is in conflict with basic ethical principles of medical practice, and The World Medical Association strongly encourages all National Medical Associations and physicians to refrain from participating in euthanasia, even if national law allows it or decriminalizes it under certain conditions.”
(c) ANZSPM opposes the legalisation of both euthanasia and assisted suicide.
Christian Medical Fellowship
- The Christian Medical Fellowship supports Christian doctors and medical students to be global citizens and support the work of medical missionaries.
We believe that every individual should have the right to die with dignity with the availability of compassionate medical and nursing care that takes account of physical, mental and spiritual needs, so that the end of life is as peaceful as possible for the individual and his or her family. We also uphold the patient’s autonomy to refuse or discontinue treatment at any time.
We join the New Zealand Medical Association, the World Medical Association and many other medical societies across the world in strongly opposing Euthanasia and PAS, and instead advocating for the promotion and resourcing of good palliative care.
Euthanasia-Free NZ
Euthanasia-Free NZ Inc. is a nationwide network of individuals from diverse professional, social and philosophical backgrounds united in the belief that the legalisation of euthanasia and assisted suicide poses a great threat to the wellbeing of our society. It is a member of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition International.
Nowhere in the world has legal assisted suicide and euthanasia been successfully contained and regulated. It’s impossible to put enforceable safeguards in place that would prevent coercion, pressure and abuse.
The illness and death of a loved one, and the grief process involved, can be an emotionally harrowing experience. Society needs to do everything possible to relieve such suffering. However, assisted suicide – making it legal for people to deliberately help others kill themselves – is not the solution.
Family First New Zealand
Family First New Zealand is a registered charity that undertakes research and advocates for strong families and safe communities.
To legalise assisted suicide (euthanasia) would place large numbers of vulnerable people at risk – in particular those who are depressed, elderly, sick, disabled, those experiencing chronic illness, limited access to good medical care, and those who feel themselves to be under emotional or financial pressure to request early death.
Hospice New Zealand
Hospice New Zealand represents x hospices around New Zealand to ensure that every New Zealander has access to quality palliative care.
Hospice New Zealand does not support a change in the law to legalise assisted dying in any form. Nor do we consider that a change in the law would be in the best interests of the people we care for.
We believe Government should be investing in palliative care, increasing access to care and support not legalising euthanasia.
Lutherans for Life
Lutherans for Life was established in 1987by the general Synod of the Lutheran Church to provide a way for Lutherans and their friends in Australia and New Zealand to learn about the need and responsibility to care deeply for people in all stages of life.
New Zealand Health Professionals Alliance
The New Zealand Health Professionals Alliance is an incorporated society that advocates for freedom of conscience in health care.
NZHPA believes that vulnerable people are at risk if euthanasia and assisted suicide is legalised. The frail, the elderly, the disabled and those with a terminal illness will feel pressure to request euthanasia out of fear of being a burden to their family and others.
NZHPA advocates for improved access to palliative care and hospice services. Excellence in palliative care, offered in the right way, at the right time, is what is needed to ease patients’ suffering.
Not Dead Yet Aotearoa
Not Dead Yet Aotearoa was formed in 2015 to be a focus for disabled peoples’ voices against euthanasia and PAS legislation. It is part of disability opposition world wide.
If society says through the legalisation of euthanasia and physician assisted suicide that life with a severe disability is not worth living, there is also the real risk that the ‘right to die’ is seen for disabled people to be a ‘duty to die’ – pressuring us to ‘choose’ suicide over living a full life with a disability.
Palliative Care Nurses New Zealand
Palliative Care Nurses New Zealand was founded in 2006 as the only organisation in the country which represents nurses from all care settings who either work in or have an interest within the speciality of palliative care.
PCNNZ, as a professional nursing group, believes assisted dying in any form is incongruent with the underlying ethos and practice of palliative care and nursing.
The Nathaniel Centre
The Nathaniel Centre was founded by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference in 1999 to promote the study and practical resolution of ethical, social and legal issues arising out of medical and scientific research and practice.
In spite of lawmakers’ best intentions, there are no adequate legal safeguards that can be put in place to protect vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, or those with disabilities should euthanasia or assisted-suicide be legalised.
The Salvation Army in New Zealand
The mission of the Salvation Army in New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga is caring for people, transforming lives and reforming society through God in Christ by the Holy Spirit’s power.
It is important to communicate by word and deed to the sick, the elderly and the dying that they remain worthy of respect, that they are loved and will not be abandoned to their suffering.
Respect for the dignity of human life demands quality care for all persons at the end of their lives. The Salvation Army therefore promotes access to palliative services that provide holistic care (physical, emotional, psychological, social and spiritual) when there is no longer medical hope for a cure. Optimal pain control and the overall comfort of the individual should be the primary goals of this care.
Seales v Attorney-General
The Care Alliance was granted intervener status in the Seales v Attorney-General High Court case in 2015.
Click here to find out more.
Care Alliance Charitable Trust
The Care Alliance Charitable Trust is incorporated under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957 (registration number 2632793).
The purposes of the Trust are:
- to nurture informed conversations about dying
- to promote equal access to excellent palliative care, suicide prevention services and support for disabled persons
- to promote alternatives to euthanasia and assisted suicide
- to support community education initiatives and the education and support of health professionals in the pursuit or furtherance of the above objectives
- to conduct research into the attitudes towards and experiences of dying in Aotearoa New Zealand and end-of-life situations overseas.
The trustees are John Kleinsman (Chair), Sinead Donnelly (Deputy Chair) and Michael Hallagan (Treasurer).
The Secretary is Peter Thirkell.
Contact
Secretary
Care Alliance
PO Box 5821
Wellington 6140
Mob 027 563 5086