23 Jan 2016

Andrew Butler: determining death

From Saturday Morning, 9:05 am on 23 January 2016
Lecretia Seales lawyer, Dr Andrew Butler.

Andrew Butler during Lecretia Seales' court case Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson

Andrew Butler is a litigator, and partner at Russell McVeagh. He is one of New Zealand’s leading experts on our Bill of Rights, and co-author of New Zealand Bill of Rights Act: A Commentary.

He acted for Lecretia Seales, who went to the High Court last year in an attempt to win the right to choose how she died.

Butler talks to Kim Hill about the case and the issues surrounding it.

(Public submissions on MP Maryann Street's petition, requesting “That the House of Representatives investigate fully public attitudes towards the introduction of legislation which would permit medically-assisted dying in the event of a terminal illness or an irreversible condition which makes life unbearable”, close on 1 February.)