Death With Dignity Bill Lost in Narrow Vote

Politicians in 2003 rejected a proposed new law which would have given people with terminal or incurable illnesses the right to die. The Death With Dignity Bill failed to cross its first hurdle in Parliament on Wednesday 30 July 2003, when it was defeated at the first reading by 60 votes to 58 in a conscience vote for MPs. One MP abstained and one did not vote.

The bill would have allowed the seriously ill to ask a doctor to help them die. But even if it had been eventually passed by Parliament, voluntary euthanasia would not have become law until it was supported by a majority of New Zealand voters in a referendum.

New Zealand First MP Peter Brown, the architect of the bill, said after the vote that he was shattered. "The politicians have let the people of New Zealand down. I'm pretty brassed off."

MPs nine years ago also defeated plans for voluntary euthanasia. Mr Brown cannot put forward another bill at least until after the next election.

National party leader Bill English had spoken strongly against legalising voluntary euthanasia.

How they voted

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