Euthanasia campaigner fears spread of misinformation

20:48, Nov 13 2019
ROSS GIBLIN/STUFF
Suzy Austen's mother was an active, vibrant woman who, in the end, was barely a person. She had dementia for 13 years and finally closed her eyes for the last two and a half. Austen, whose home was bugged by police during a euthanasia meeting, talked in 2018 about how she got involved in the cause.

Susan Austen had a woman sobbing on her shoulder when her hopes of death were dashed.

The woman was distraught because "hero" Act MP David Seymour's End of Life Choice Bill had been watered down to mean that only those facing terminal illnesses will be eligible for voluntary euthanasia.

The woman, with a condition that will find her with an unbearable, but not terminal, illness does not plan to die yet but had just found out she wouldn't have the option of a chosen death.

Susan Austen fears misinformation has already been spread about the euthanasia referendum.
ROSS GIBLIN/STUFF
Susan Austen fears misinformation has already been spread about the euthanasia referendum.

Austen, in her late 60s, became an unlikely criminal in 2016 when a police sting led to a 2018 trial where she pleaded guilty to two charges of importing the drug pentobarbitone.

READ MORE:
* The Susan Austen interview - from teacher to campaigner to unlikely criminal
* Austen trial: Put aside views on assisted dying, jury told
* High Court trial of euthanasia campaigner Susan Austen gets under way on Monday

It was her home in the hills above Hutt Valley that an Exit International meeting was held and the attendees - mostly older women - were stopped in a police operation leaving. It later transpired police had bugged the meeting.

Euthanasia campaigner Susan Austen, with her motorcycle enthusiast husband Mike Harris.
ROSS GIBLIN/STUFF
Euthanasia campaigner Susan Austen, with her motorcycle enthusiast husband Mike Harris.

Now Austen has a new battle: Misinformation.

She believed there was already a lot of scaremongering around what the bill meant. Already people believed that the old would be able to be euthanased simply for their age, or the disabled killed simply for their disabilities. Wrong, on both counts, Austen said.

Even those in intolerable pain - assuming it was not terminal - wouldn't get the option, she said.

Susan Austen, euthanasia campaigner, had her house bugged by police but remains resolutely for the cause.
ROSS GIBLIN/STUFF
Susan Austen, euthanasia campaigner, had her house bugged by police but remains resolutely for the cause.

"I fear people who are elderly and disabled are being fed these thoughts and it may frighten them."

It was only for those with a terminal diagnosis, Austen said.

"Doctors are going to be so diligent to make sure the law is not abused ... doctors are not easily hoodwinked into making decisions."

Polls showed most New Zealanders supported voluntary euthanasia but Austen believed that - assuming there was a referendum - a campaign would mobilise against it with church money bank-rolling the anti-euthanasia campaign.

 

Stuff