John Key has said some pretty stupid things in his time as PM (along with the outright lies, insults to other countries, racist jokes and so on). And once Key makes a claim, no matter how stupid or how offensive, he never backs down, never admits that he was wrong, never genuinely apologises. Here he goes again:
John Key stands by euthanasia comments
Prime Minister John Key has sparked outrage among health care professionals with his comments that euthanasia effectively happens in New Zealand, despite being illegal. The Society of Palliative Medicine says the claim is ‘completely false’ and fears it may make the public less trusting of hospital care.
Palliative medicine specialist Sinead Donnelly cares for 500 dying patients each year – she says her focus is helping them live the rest of their lives as well as possible, not helping them die.
“We were appalled by the statement coming from the Prime Minister of New Zealand, which is a highly respected position that people would take seriously. That’s clearly not true,” says Mrs Donnelly, the chair of the Australia New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine. …
But Key isn’t backing down, as the heated debate continues about whether people should have the right to choose to die.
Dr Donnelly (and another palliative care specialist) were interviewed on RNZ on Friday, you can hear the audio here. She’s angry, calling Key’s claims “a slap in the face” for the medical profession.
Dr Donnelly is opposed to the legalisation of euthanasia, and there I (and most New Zealanders it seems) disagree with her. But you can’t argue with her knowledge, her experience, or her right to speak up for her profession. If she says that illegal euthanasia is not currently taking place in NZ then I believe her. But not John Key. Once he’s opened his mouth he knows that he knows best.
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