CHRISTCHURCH - The condition of Blenheim tetraplegic Brian Park has improved since he was filmed asking for the right to die.
Mr Park, aged 32, is at the Burwood Spinal Unit after a truck accident three months ago broke his neck in two places. He cannot move his limbs or breathe for himself.
Over two weeks ago, he wrote to Canterbury Health requesting the right to end his life.
"I want the hospital to respect my wishes and turn the ventilator off," he said.
He was filmed for a television programme on May 29, requesting the same. The programme was shown over a week later, on Tuesday night.
But the spinal unit's clinical director, Dr Richard Acland, said yesterday that Mr Park could now sit up and was in less pain.
"He still wants the right to make the decision to terminate his life. He is not saying he wants to do it now, but he wants that ability to say he's had enough," Dr Acland said.
If doctors considered Mr Park's clinical state had plateaued, which could be a year or two away, then they would accept his wish, he said.
The president of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society (Auckland), Jack Jones, said Mr Park already had the right to have his ventilator switched off under the Health and Disability Commissioner Act.
Under the code of rights, Mr Park could make an informed choice about whether he had a ventilator - Mr Park's request was not about voluntary euthanasia, Mr Jones said.
"The whole point has been missed. It is the question of a ... victim of medical technology, who five years ago would not have survived."
Dr Acland said Mr Park did have that right, but only if doctors felt he was competent to decide. Mr Park had a head injury, and doctors were not absolutely sure he was competent.
- NZPA
Tetraplegic who asked to die looking better
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