Information on assisted dying for the public

Assisted Dying Service – general information sheet (PDF, 139 KB)

Assisted Dying Service – general information sheet (Word, 169 KB)

• Considering assisted dying – information sheet (PDF, 225 KB)
• Considering assisted dying – information sheet (Word, 170 KB)

• The assisted dying process – information sheet (PDF, 239 KB)
• The assisted dying process – information sheet (Word, 175 KB)

• Planning for an assisted death – information sheet (PDF, 218 KB)
• Planning for an assisted death – information sheet (Word, 170 KB)

• Supporting someone who is using the assisted dying service – information for whānau (PDF, 198 KB)
• Supporting someone who is using the assisted dying service – information for whānau (Word, 166 KB)

• Assisted Dying Service – quick reference guide (graphic version) (PDF, 196 KB)
• Assisted Dying Service – quick reference guide (text only) (Word, 161 KB)

• My Journey, My Needs – assisted dying care plan (PDF, 353 KB)
• My Journey, My Needs – assisted dying care plan (Word, 341 KB)

Assisted dying means that a person with a terminal illness who meets the eligibility criteria can request medication that will end their life.

The Assisted Dying Service does not replace existing end of life care options, such as palliative care. It provides another option for a person with a terminal illness in specific circumstances.  Palliative care is about managing pain and symptoms for people who have an illness that cannot be cured. It can be provided at home or in a community facility, like a hospice. More information can be found on the Ministry’s website. 

The person may also be receiving other end of life care, such as palliative care, and they can continue to receive this care while also accessing the assisted dying service. As part of the assisted dying process, the person’s doctor will make sure the person understands their other options for end of life care.

The process for accessing assisted dying is set out in the Act. The steps involved include: 

• 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 the administering the medication
• a doctor or a nurse practitioner (under the instruction of a doctor) administering the medication. 

There is more detail about these steps in our assisted dying process information sheet.

There is not a set timeframe for how long this process takes, as the time taken will vary based on the person’s situation. The assisted dying service aims to be responsive to a person’s needs. However, assisted dying is not an urgent or acute health service, and there is a set formal process that a person must go through.

It is expected that confirming a person’s eligibility for assisted dying could take four to six weeks from when the 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.

The Ministry of Health is responsible for overseeing and funding the assisted dying service. This includes monitoring the service and improving it over time. The Ministry has a secretariat team that is a contact point for the person, their whānau and the involved health professionals.

The Registrar (Assisted Dying) is part of the secretariat. They will check that the processes required in the Act have been complied with for each eligible person.

The Support and Consultation for End of Life New Zealand (SCENZ) Group is a statutory body created for the assisted dying service. The SCENZ Group is responsible for maintaining lists of medical practitioners, nurse practitioners, and psychiatrists who provide assisted dying services.

A person can ask for the name and contact details of a medical practitioner from this list if their doctor does not provide assisted dying services, or they do not want to talk to their own doctor.

• Read about the eligibility criteria
• Read more on the SCENZ group page