The forms claimed euthanasia could apply to people with gluten intolerance, arthritis and asthma.

Hamilton's Roman Catholic Diocese has been accused of fear-mongering over the proposed euthanasia law.

Submission forms printed for parishioners to fill in to oppose the bill say euthanasia could apply to people with gluten intolerance, arthritis and asthma.

The End of Life Choice Bill, currently before a parliamentary select committee, proposes a legal method of assisted death for people with terminal illnesses or grievous and irremediable medical conditions.

KELLY HODEL / STUFF Dale Lethbridge, a member of the End of Life Choice Society, is concerned with the materials proffered at a Hamilton Catholic church encouraging people to submit against euthanasia.

Pro-euthanasia campaigners say the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Hamilton East is using misinformation to scare parishioners into signing a ready-made submission form.

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The material, found in the church's foyer, says the definition of "irremediable medical condition" is vague to the point that it could include arthritis, asthma and gluten intolerance.

KELLY HODEL/STUFF The material insinuates that gluten intolerance would be reason enough for euthanasia.

It says there is "no clear definition" of terminal illness and could include depression. It also casts doubt on the ability to determine a person's life expectancy.

"Many people will be pressured into ending their lives when they still have many weeks, months or even years to live well," the submission form says.

Hamilton Bishop Stephen Lowe, who initially said he hadn't seen the pamphlet, said he has since heard that the document was made by a church member.

KELLY HODEL/STUFF The ready-made submission form has been dismissed as disinformation by pro-euthanasia campaigners and ACT party leader David Seymour.

Lowe said he hasn't asked for it to be removed.

"I don't think necessarily it's bad.

"It wasn't handed out to everyone, it was just there.

DOMINICO ZAPATA/STUFF Hamilton Bishop Steve Lowe, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Hamilton, wouldn't comment about the pamphlet specifically as he hadn't seen it and didn't know who had put it together (file photo).

"The ramifications of allowing such legislation into New Zealand law puts a lot of people at risk.

"Once the door is open, we're not going to be able to close it."

In Belgium and Holland, depressed teenagers had won the right to be euthanised, Lowe said.

DONNA PAGET Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Catholic Cathedral in Hamilton.

"We've got so much concern about suicide and teenage suicide. Here we are wanting to offer assisted suicide or euthanasia. It just doesn't make any sense."

"One of our high school students last year did a speech on [euthanasia] and he talked about a young Swiss woman with Crohn's disease, which is a disease he suffers from - and she had the right to be euthanised."

New Zealand's six Catholic bishops wrote a joint letter on January 23, urging parishioners to submit against the bill and describing it as a grave threat to "the gift of life".

DAVID WHITE/STUFF ACT leader David Seymour says it is clear the End of Life Choice bill would not allow for someone with gluten intolerance or depression to undergo assisted death (file photo).

But Dale Lethbridge, on the committee of End of Life Choice Society Waikato, said the submission form material is disinformation.

"If you were used to believing the messages of your church, you would be very frightened."

She said the idea that euthanasia could be accessed by someone with gluten intolerance, arthritis, or depression is ridiculous.

"It's a very unfair campaign. I have no problem with people having faith, but churches need to have their facts straight."

The End of Life Choice Bill would allow for New Zealanders 18 and older who suffer from a terminal illness likely to end their life within six months, or a grievous and untreatable medical condition, to choose an assisted death.

A person choosing euthanasia would have to undergo an assessment by two doctors and potentially a third specialist, followed by rigorous checks, as well as extensive documentation of the process.

Written public submissions close on February 20.

ACT party leader David Seymour, who introduced the bill, said section four of the bill made clear an illness had to be either terminal, or both irremediable and in "an advanced state of decline".

"None of the conditions they have talked about will come remotely close."

An example of an illness that might meet such criteria is Huntington's disease, where a person "chokes by their own muscles".

"A person with any kind of serious mental illness, by definition, has a distorted view of what ending their life means. If your argument is I'm depressed and I want assisted dying, the rules actually exclude you."

Seymour preferred to assume the bill had not been properly read, as opposed to intentionally misrepresented.

WHERE TO GET HELP:

* Lifeline (open 24/7) - 0800 543 354

* Depression Helpline (open 24/7) - 0800 111 757

* Gambling Helpline - 0800 654 655

* Healthline (open 24/7) - 0800 611 116

* Samaritans (open 24/7) - 0800 726 666

* Suicide Crisis Helpline (open 24/7) - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO).

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