About the Assisted Dying Service
An overview of the Assisted Dying Service, including how assisted dying fits into other end of life care options.
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The Assisted Dying Service allows a person with a terminal illness to request medication to end their life.
The person must meet strict eligibility and follow the process set out in a law called the End of Life Choice Act 2019 (the Act).
Assisted dying became legal in New Zealand on 7 November 2021.
Mate whakaahuru
Te reo Māori translation for assisted dying is mate whakaahuru – to die in a warm and comforting manner.
This wording was used by Māori media and proficient Te Reo speakers prior to the End of Life Choice Act 2019 coming into force. It has since been adopted by Manatū Hauora - Ministry of Health as the translation for the name of the service, based on consultation with Te Apārangi: Māori Partnership Alliance and the Support and Consultation for End of Life in New Zealand (SCENZ) Group.
Assisted dying is a personal choice
Assisted dying is a personal choice. The decision to have an assisted death must be made by the person with a terminal illness and cannot be made on behalf of someone else.
A person considering this option needs to raise it with their doctor or someone in their health care team. Health professionals are not allowed to raise assisted dying with a person or suggest it as an option.
Assisted dying is provided as a free service by medical and nurse practitioners, usually in home or community settings (such as an aged residential care facility or a hospice). The person and the involved practitioners are supported by the Assisted Dying Services team (within Te Whatu Ora) throughout the process.
Read more about accessing assisted dying services.
You can contact the Assisted Dying Secretariat by emailing AssistedDying@health.govt.nz or calling freephone 0800 223 852.
The assisted dying secretariat in Manatū Hauora supports the team at Te Whatu Ora and is responsible for overseeing service regulation, statutory committees, and includes the Office of the Registrar.
The assisted dying process
A person must meet all eligibility criteria and follow the set process to have an assisted death. The assisted dying process involves:
- a person making a request for assisted dying
- a doctor assessing whether the person is eligible
- a second, independent doctor assessing whether the person is eligible
- if required, a psychiatrist assessing whether the person is competent to make an informed decision
- planning for the assisted death, including choosing a date and time and the method for administering the medication
- a doctor or a nurse practitioner administering the medication.
The person can choose to involve their whānau or other support people in parts of the process, but they do not have to. The whānau or support people cannot choose an assisted death on the person’s behalf.
Read more about the process for assisted dying in the public information sheets.
Timeframes for the Assisted Dying Service
Everyone must follow the set process. How long this process takes depends on a person’s situation – it is different for everyone, and there is no set timeframe.
It is expected that the process for confirming a person’s eligibility may take between four and eight weeks after a request is made.
The timeframe for the process may also depend on the availability of practitioners, particularly if the practitioners are travelling to provide services.
End-of-life care options
Assisted dying gives people who meet the criteria another option. It does not replace the care a person is already receiving, such as palliative care.
As part of the assessment process, the attending medical practitioner must ensure a person understands their other options for end-of-life care.
It is likely that a person’s existing care will continue throughout the assisted dying assessment process. This means that a person’s health needs continue to be met if they are found not to be eligible for an assisted death, or if they change their mind.