Two hundred and fifty-seven people chose to die by euthanasia in first year since euthanasia became legal in New Zealand, says Victoria University assisted dying researcher Dr Jessica Young. Hundreds more explored the service but chose not to proceed, she says. However, Young’s conversations with 19 individuals who opted for euthanasia paint a picture of Read more
More palliative care investment is needed in New Zealand, says Royal College of GPs medical director Dr Bryan Betty. He’s concerned about ACT Party leader David Seymour’s desire to widen the End of Life Choice Act criteria. Seymour argues the change is necessary, as many who want assisted suicide are “missing out”. Seymour says this Read more
Looser criteria in the euthanasia law are needed, says ACT Party leader David Seymour. A year after coming into force, the End of Life Choice Act is working well and opponents of the law change had “melted away,” Seymour says. “The figures overwhelmingly show a law that is working. People can and do get through Read more
Many millennials are forecast to die badly because our underfunded palliative care system is struggling on dwindling fundraising. Experts say we already have a “postcode lottery” determining who dies in pain. The scale of the problem contrasts with the provisions of the newly available End of Life Choice legislation. The new legislation offers a fully-funded Read more
Assisted dying became legally available on Sunday, the first death may be next month and observers are looking out for the statistics on the new law’s take up. The End of Life Choice Act means people enduring unbearable suffering from a terminal health condition and have a life expectancy of less than six months may Read more
A new statutory body has been established ahead of euthanasia becoming legal in New Zealand in November. The Support and Consultation for End of Life in New Zealand group (SCENZ) is charged with maintaining and providing a list of medical practitioners and psychiatrists as part of the service when required. The 11-person group will “support Read more
New Zealand health officials are expecting legal action when the new End of Life Choice Act comes into force on 7 November this year. Ministry of Health officials have highlighted “complex and sensitive elements” to the End of Life Choice Act and incoming assisted dying regime in a briefing paper to Health Minister Andrew Little. Read more
The End of Life Choice Act will create a tough pastoral issue for New Zealand’s Catholic bishops says Bishop Patrick Dunn (pictured). The Act comes into force on 7 November. The big pastoral issue revolves around whether or not to give the last rites to people who choose assisted suicide or euthanasia. The last rites Read more
New Zealand doctors are getting ready to implement the End of Life Choice Act when it comes into force next year. Assisted dying will become legal from 6 November 2021. The preliminary referendum result at last month’s election shows 65.1 percent of voters supported the act and 33.8 percent opposed it. The New Zealand Medical Read more
The New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA) and New Zealand’s Catholic bishops conference, Hospice New Zealand, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists have all expressed dismay at the vote allowing assisted dying. NZMA says it goes against medical values and is a “step too far” for many doctors. NZMA Read more