Parliament to vote on end of life choice

The question of whether terminally or irredeemably ill people should be allowed to choose to end their own life is to be decided in Parliament.

David Seymour's End of Life Choice Bill has been pulled from the private members' ballot to be voted upon by MPs.

The Bill is likely to be a conscience vote. 

Mr Seymour told The AM Show in May he believed he had the numbers to get the Bill through the first reading at least.

"I think at least a third are definitely on for it. Maybe a fifth are hardcore opposed for personal or spiritual or whatever reasons. There's a mushy middle in there I think we would get. We would get it through the first reading," he said at the time.

The Bill would allow people the choice to receive medical assistance to end their own life when certain conditions are met.

Mr Seymour tweeted that he was pleased the Bill was drawn.

"The End of Life Choice Bill has been drawn. Fantastic news, long awaited. Parliament will finally debate a vital issue of personal freedom," he said.

A 2016 poll found two-thirds of New Zealand adults support assisted dying, with another 21 percent on the fence. 

Family First responded almost immediately to the announcement, saying they will launch a counter-campaign to 'kill' Mr Seymour's Bill. 

The Bill is one of several drawn from the ballot today, along with Julie Anne Genter's Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill, Ian McKelvie's Sentencing (Livestock Rustling) Amendment Bill and Jonathan Young's Local Government (Freedom of Access) Amendment Bill.

Newshub.