WelCom, September 2024

Assisted dying – in the form of physician-assisted euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide – became legal in Aotearoa New Zealand three years ago on 7 November 2021.

That law stipulates there must be a review within three years of the practice coming into force and every five years after that.

The first review, overseen by the Ministry of Health, is currently taking place [opened 1 August 2024; closes 26 September 2024], and consists of two parallel streams.

A review of the operation of the End of Life Choice Act (2019), to be informed by targeted engagement with organisations and individuals that are directly involved in the provision of assisted dying or have particular knowledge or expertise relevant to its operation. This material will form the basis for a formal report with recommendations to the Minister of Health.

An online process canvassing public opinion on what changes could be made to the End of Life Choice Act via an online portal: tinyurl.com/End-of-Life-Choice-Act-Review.

This feedback will not influence the recommendations but will be summarised in a separate report to politicians to help inform them in the event a new private member’s bill is put forward suggesting changes to the current legislation.

In anticipation of the statutory review, various proponents of assisted dying have begun lobbying for a more permissive law.

‘Canada, where eligible people are requesting assisted dying because of a lack of available health care options or lack of proper social supports, provides a salutary warning for us should we decide to further liberalise our law,’ says Director of the New Zealand Catholic Bioethics Centre, Dr John Kleinsman.

Dr Kleinsman is concerned about the push to make our laws more permissive, including the following.

• Changing the current requirement that a person will die within six months.
• Extension to include ‘non-terminal’ neurological conditions.
• Allowing doctors to suggest the option of assisted dying with their patients.
• Allowing for assisted dying to be consented in advance through a directive which would open it up for people with dementia.
• Greater pressure on health practitioners and institutions to participate in assisted dying, undermining their rights to freedom of conscience.

The post Review of End of Life Choice Act – public submissions now open first appeared on Archdiocese of Wellington.