Coroner urges right-to-die review

By MARTIN JOHNSTON and NZPA

A coroner who has investigated three voluntary euthanasia cases in just over a year is urging Parliament to take another look at the issue.

At an inquest on Monday, Nelson coroner Ian Smith ruled that Victoria Ellen Vincent, 83, committed suicide by suffocation.

Her husband, Ralph, was investigated by police after she was found dead with a plastic bag over her head last September. The couple had been long-time members of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society.

Mrs Vincent had arthritis, osteoporosis and, unknown to her when she died, invasive cancer.

She had trouble sitting up for long periods and suffered pain and discomfort.

Detective Sergeant Kevin Tiernan told the inquest that in the days before her death Mrs Vincent had talked of wanting to die soon and of having accumulated enough pills to achieve her aim.

Mr Tiernan said police had found at her home two books relating to voluntary euthanasia. They contained details on how to commit suicide.

Hamilton coroner Gordon Matenga and Auckland coroner Dr Murray Jamieson told the Herald yesterday they held no statistics on the incidence of voluntary euthanasia, because it could be difficult to distinguish from any other suicides.

But Mr Smith said it was an easy matter in the three cases he mentioned.

"The sharply distinguishing feature is that all had plastic bags over their heads," he said.

They also left suicide notes explaining that they were in great pain.

"The post mortem reports showed what they were suffering from, and we put the whole scenario together."

Mr Smith, a coroner for more than 10 years, said three such cases in just over a year marked an increased incidence.

He attributed this to publicity about voluntary euthanasia, including "the Australian scene", and the rejection in July of a bill to legalise voluntary euthanasia.

Australian euthanasia advocate Dr Philip Nitschke showed his carbon monoxide suicide machine to an Auckland audience in April.

Mr Smith said the current law must be upheld, but it was up to Parliament to resolve the issue.

"The reality is that this will continue. It's something we as a society have to come to grips with.

"When someone's quality of life is so bad ... they have to do something to alleviate their suffering. If I have had three ... how many others are there around the country?"

Asked for his personal view on voluntary euthanasia, he said: "When quality of life is to the point that it's not there - I suppose if I'm not functioning ... I probably don't want to be here."

Mr Vincent said he was surprised and heartened by Mr Smith's comments.

"I am quite sure that, with the spread of knowledge, there has been a great deal more than [three deaths], and there will be quite a few cases that raise no suspicion with the police at all and are put down to natural deaths," he said.

"My heart goes out to anyone who is too sick to carry out the suicide option with dignity on their own.

"They want to say, 'This is my life and it should be my choice when I choose to leave it', and certainly not the Government's. I can only hope this will get through to the politicians eventually."

Mr Smith expected the issue would be discussed at the Australasian coroners' conference in Christchurch next week and he would raise it at the next meeting of the New Zealand Coroners Council.