Assisted dying through the administration of medication by an attending medical practitioner or attending nurse practitioner to the person to relieve the person suffering by hastening death (euthanasia); or
The self-administration by the subject person of medication to relieve this suffering by hastening death (assisted suicide).
Issues and safeguards
Health practitioner may refuse to provide assisted dying services – health practitioner may conscientiously object;
A discussion about assisted dying must not be initiated by a health practitioner – disciplinary proceedings may result if that happens;
The legal profession is not subject to those limitations;
Exercising the option of assisted dying is a multistep process.
Key criteria
Person must be aged 18 years or over;
A New Zealand citizen or permanent resident;
Have a terminal illness likely to end the person’s life within six months;
Be in an advance state of irreversible physical decline;
Have unbearable suffering that cannot be tolerably relieved;
Must be competent to make informed decision.
Person not eligible
If has mental disorder or mental illness;
A disability of any kind;
Is of advanced age.
Key steps
Request to medical practitioner from patient;
First opinion concerning eligibility from a medical practitioner;
Second opinion concerning eligibility from independent medical practitioner;
Third opinion may be required from psychiatrist if uncertainty about persons capacity;
After medical review if patient is not eligible or not competent this decision must be recorded in writing and filed with the Registrar;
If patient is eligible and competent the medical practitioner must:
discuss with the patient the progress of the patient’s illness;
discuss the timing of administering the medication;
give the patient a form to fill in choosing the date and time;
advise patient that he or she can change his or her mind.
Ministry of Health:
To assist with implementation of the Act the Ministry is putting together implementation resources about assisted dying for the public and medical profession;
Facilitating three public statutory bodies to administer the Act:
Support and Consultation for End of Life in NZ Group (SCENZ);