New Zealand to vote in referendum on euthanasia

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There were celebrations in New Zealand's parliament on Wednesday (November 13), as lawmakers passed a bill that would legalize euthanasia.

It'll still be up to the people of New Zealand to decide whether terminally ill patients can request a medically assisted death. A referendum will be held alongside next year's general election.

Recent polls indicate support for the measure.

But outside parliament on Wednesday, protesters held signs saying 'caring not killing'.

Lawmaker David Seymour who's behind the bill, said this after the decision:

(SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW ZEALAND POLITICIAN AND LEADER OF BILL DAVID SEYMOUR WALKING UP TO JOURNALISTS AND SAYING:

"Oh look I feel like this is the start of the referendum campaign. It's great that we got this far in delivering New Zealanders' choice, but now we need to make sure that the information out there is clear and that New Zealanders' actually get the choice they want from the referendum."

If it passes, New Zealand would join countries like Canada, Switzerland, and some US states in allowing medically assisted deaths.