Assisted dying

Assisted Dying has been legally available in New Zealand since November 2021.

 

We appreciate that there are a range of views on the End-of-Life Choice Act 2019. We respect that everyone has the right to their opinion and that there are varying views from a spiritual, religious or cultural perspective which may not be the same for all individuals within a group or culture.

It is essential to us that patients feel safe to raise the issue of assisted dying with our staff or any of your regular health providers (e.g. your GP), knowing that we respect the right for patients to choose what they want for themselves. It is our aim to provide the best care possible and all the relevant information that you may require to help with decision making.

If you did raise the topic with our staff, we would keep a note of this in your confidential patient notes and you would be provided with the relevant information regarding eligibility and details of the process required as it can be quite detailed.

When the End-of-Life Choice Bill was passed we chose to align our stance with that of our national body (Hospice New Zealand) and to that end we do not offer the service on our premises currently. However, this does not remove the requirement for us to offer whatever assistance is required for patient’s needs and wishes to be fulfilled and we will offer all the support that we can.

The organisation that is charged with overall responsibility for assisted dying is Support and Consultation for End of Life in New Zealand Group (SCENZ). To contact the SCENZ Group visit the Ministry of Health, or you can contact us for their details.

At all times Cranford Hospice, your GP and health team will continue to offer the best palliative care that we can provide while this process is being explored.

For more information visit Health New Zealand