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New Zealand

Legal situation

In short

Medically assisted dying services became available in New Zealand on 7 November 2021.

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End of Life Choice Act 2019

The End of Life Choice Act 2019 contains聽the following eligibility criteria, as assessed and agreed by two unrelated doctors:

路聽聽聽聽聽聽 Aged 18 years or over and

路聽聽聽聽聽聽 A New Zealand citizen or permanent resident and

路聽聽聽聽聽聽 Diagnosed with a terminal illness that is likely to end your life within 6 months or less and

路聽聽聽聽聽聽 In an advanced state of irreversible decline in physical capability and

路聽聽聽聽聽聽 Experiencing unbearable suffering that cannot be relieved in any manner tolerable to you and

路聽聽聽聽聽聽 Be uncoerced and

路聽聽聽聽聽聽 Be mentally competent to understand what you are asking and to understand the implications for you if you decide to go through with an assisted death.

Assisted dying is not available to those applying solely on grounds of disability or of mental illness.聽 It is not available via Advance Directive or once mental competency has been lost, e.g due to advancing dementia.聽

Right to Die Societies in New Zealand

End-of-Life Choice Society of New Zealand

End-of-Life Choice Society of NZ