At least 28 New Zealanders have been assisted in dying in the first three months after the End of Life Choice Act became legal.
The End of Life Choice Act went into effect on November 7 after two-thirds of Kiwis (65.1 percent) voted it through in the 2020 referendum. Thereby, allowing qualifying terminally ill New Zealanders to choose to end their lives.
According to Ministry of Health data as of January 31, there have been more than two dozen assisted deaths in the three months since assisted dying became authorized.
Because the data is updated weekly, it’s possible that more people have been assisted in dying since the figure was announced.
To be eligible for assisted dying under the Act, a person must be over the age of 18 and have a terminal condition that will kill them within six months.
They must be suffering from considerable and persistent bodily deterioration. They should also have unbearable suffering that cannot ease out in a way that is acceptable to them.
The End of Life Review Committee, which reviews every death, has not yet raised any objections to the registrar.
According to the Registrar, the public had filed “a very limited number of complaints”. But the ministry said it couldn’t provide any additional information at this time.
It may also be unable to provide details about the victims, such as their age, medical conditions, or ethnicity.
End of Life Choice Act: The process of assisted dying
A person makes a formal request for assisted dying to their doctor. Then, an accompanying medical practitioner conducts a preliminary evaluation to determine their eligibility.
A second independent doctor analyzes the person. If one or both of the first examinations fail to determine the person’s competency, a psychiatrist conducts the third assessment.
When a person passes all the steps, they can choose the date and time of their assisted dying. They can also choose the mode of medicine administration.
None of the 56 people who had two assessments, according to the Ministry, required a third.
130 medical practitioners in New Zealand have signed up to participate in assisted dying.