Otago psychiatrists call on colleagues to say no to euthanasia

Voxy.co.nz

The impact of legalising euthanasia will be devastating on older people, the poor and disabled, according to two University of Otago psychiatrists who are calling on their colleagues both in New Zealand and internationally to oppose the move.

Consultant psychogeriatrician Associate Professor Yoram Barak and Senior Lecturer Chris Gale, from the Department of Psychological Medicine, have reviewed the laws and practices in every country with legal euthanasia and how they have been modified.

They found the most vulnerable – the elderly, the poor and the disabled – are disproportionate in their use of euthanasia. . . [Full text]