Duncan Garner has revealed the reason why he is now in favour of legal euthanasia.
In an emotional conversation on Wednesday morning, Garner told his co-hosts on The AM Show about his experience with the death of his father.
"My father died nine years ago in Mary Potter Hospice," he said on Wednesday morning.
"We were told on the Monday that was it, he was gonna die that week, and he died on the Thursday morning," he said.
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He and his mother were by his father's bedside until the end.
"I laid under the hospital bed for four days 'cause mum was in the chair and we waited and waited," he said.
"I wouldn't have chosen euthanasia because it wasn't an option but I think they did anyway - I think they gave him enough pain meds to make sure he went peacefully," he told his co-hosts
"The week before, he was really unhappy. He was getting up and trying to get out and storm off and mum and I had to hold him down and calm him down and it was that occasion I thought we should probably have some tools here," said Garner.
But there was nothing available to help his father, or help his family cope.
"We had no tools, dad had had enough he was outta there. I found that a really tough week,
"This is what New Zealanders are talking about - they see a moment where they've lost control or a loved one has lost control of their life and they want a choice."
Garner says he never used to support the move, but now he's changed his mind.
"My position of this is not simple - I didn't used to support it, I do now. In the worst of circumstances, and in saying that, I wouldn't have chosen it for dad but it crossed my mind when he was really struggling."
David Seymour's End of Life Choice Bill will have its second reading in Parliament on Wednesday evening, and if it passes, it will legalise euthanasia for patients suffering at the end of their lives.
Newshub.
