A person with a terminal illness who meets the eligibility criteria has a right to request medication to end their life.
Assisted dying is legally available in New Zealand. A person with a terminal illness who meets the eligibility criteria has a right to request medication to end their life. The End-of-Life Choice Act (2019) sets out the legal framework for accessing assisted dying.
Mercy Hospice offers non-judgmental, holistic palliative care for all people at the end of life, including those who wish to have assisted dying.
We respect and support a patient’s right to explore and choose the option of an assisted death.
The fundamental principle of palliative care is to neither hasten death nor unnecessarily prolong life.
That means Mercy Hospice, along with many other hospices throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, does not allow our staff to be directly involved in assisted dying practices as detailed in the End of Life Choice Act (2019).
Mercy Hospice will provide the contact details of the Support and Consultation for the End of Life in New Zealand (SCENZ) group to those wishing to consider assisted dying. The SCENZ group is set up by the Ministry of Health and guides those interested in considering assisted dying on the next steps. The SCENZ group has a list of practitioners who deliver assisted dying services.
Mercy Hospice ensures patient and family support and care up to the point of assisted death and during bereavement. SCENZ provides the support and care for assisted death itself.
The following are some of the questions we are asked. However if you have anything else you wish to query, please feel to talk to our team, or to learn more about the Assisted Dying Service click here to access the Ministry of Health website / Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora.
Yes. You can discuss any issue that concerns you with any of the staff at Mercy Hospice.
No.
The law is very clear that only the person themselves is permitted to make the request for assisted dying. Even your healthcare professional is not allowed to start the discussion or offer this as an option. It can only be discussed if you raise it first as something you specifically want to explore.
Family members, whānau and those you may have authorised as your power of attorney or who have been appointed as welfare guardians do not have any power to make decisions on your behalf around assisted dying.
Mercy Hospice staff are available and willing to discuss any questions or concerns you have, and to support you as you consider your options going forwards.
Mercy Hospice will continue to care for you and support you irrespective of your decision around assisted dying.
Along with many other hospices around New Zealand, Mercy Hospice has decided that assisted dying medication will not be administered on site at the hospice and that Mercy Hospice staff will not be involved in administering the medication required for assisted dying, nor be present at the time of an assisted death taking place, wherever that may take place.
People can choose where they want to be when assisted dying medication is administered. This may at home or elsewhere.
The Mercy Hospice palliative care team will work in a supportive and collaborative way with the practitioners from the assisted dying service during this process.