Lecretia Seales: Judge says no to right-to-die bid

Lecretia Seales was unsuccessful in seeking a landmark High Court ruling to allow her doctor to help her die without criminal prosecution.

Justice David Collins released his judgment at 3pm which rejected her bid and said only Parliament can give her what she wanted.

Ms Seales died of natural causes at 12.35am this morning, just hours after her family and lawyers received the ruling.

The health of the 42-year-old Wellington lawyer with terminal brain cancer had deteriorated rapidly in the days since her court case last week where she was seeking a declaration that a doctor would not risk prosecution if they were to help her die.

Her legal team, led by Dr Andrew Butler, also argued that denying lawful access to physician assisted death amounted to a breach of Ms Seales's rights and fundamental freedoms under the New Zealand Bill of Rights.

Opposing the bid on behalf of the Crown was Solicitor-General Mike Heron, QC, who told the court the issue was controversial, unethical and not permissible within the law.

"The current law applies to all. Its purpose is to protect the sanctity of life and the vulnerable."


- www.nzherald.co.nz