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Supplementary Order Paper No 371

No 371

House of Representatives

Supplementary Order Paper

Tuesday, 24 September 2019

End of Life Choice Bill

Proposed amendment to SOP No 259

Simeon Brown, in Committee, to move the following amendment:

Clause 24A

In clause 24A(2), delete “and to the extent that any provision expressing such a wish is included by the person in an advance written or oral directive, will, contract, or other document (not being a rescind document) that provision is invalid” (page 21).

Explanatory note

This Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) amends SOP No 259 amending the End of Life Choice Bill by removing an arbitrary restriction on the manner that a person can rescind a decision to receive euthanasia or assisted suicide.

The possibility of coercion is heightened by SOP No 259 seeking to restrict a person’s right to rescind a decision to seek euthanasia or assisted suicide. There is no good reason that a person’s clearly expressed desire in relation to euthanasia or assisted suicide should be accorded no legal weight whatsoever, as SOP No 259 would seek to ensure through clause 24A(2).