New Zealand

End of Life Choice Act 2019

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

·       Aged 18 years or over and

·       A New Zealand citizen or permanent resident and

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

·       In an advanced state of irreversible decline in physical capability and

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

·       Be uncoerced and

·       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.  It is not available via Advance Directive or once mental competency has been lost, e.g due to advancing dementia.