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Please note that the current report reflects a summary of individuals’ interactions with the assisted dying service within the three-month period between 1 October 2022, and 31 December 2022. Accordingly, medical assessments and outcomes may refer to applications initiated in a prior quarter

Overview of assisted dying applications

Between 1 October 2022 and 31 December 2022, Manatū Hauora received 218 new applications for assisted dying. Attending medical practitioners (AMPs) completed 222 assessments, independent medical practitioners (IMPs) completed 156 assessments.

During this quarter, 140 applications were confirmed as eligible and 101 assisted deaths occurred. During this period, 95 applications did not proceed due to the applicant either withdrawing their application; being found ineligible; or dying as a result of underlying conditions. Note that not all assessments or outcomes may relate to applications started in this reporting period.

Of the 218 new applications received during this quarter:

  • 82.1% were NZ European/Pākehā
  • 6.9% were Māori
  • 45.0% were Female/Wāhine
  • 79.4% were aged 65 years or older
  • 73.9% were receiving palliative care at the time of the application
  • 69.7% had a diagnosis of cancer.

Table 1: Demographics of people that have applied for assisted dying

Demographic Summary: New Applications (N=218)
01 October 2022 - 31 December 2022

Number of people3

% of applications

Ethnic group1

Māori

15

6.9%

Pacifica

0

0.0%

NZ European/Pākehā

179

82.1%

Other

25

11.5%

Sex

Female/Wāhine

98

45.0%

Male/Tāne

120

55.0%

Gender diverse

0

0.0%

Age Group

18-44 years

0

0.0%

45-64 years

45

20.6%

65-84 years

133

61.0%

85+ years

40

18.3%

Diagnosis2

Cancer

152

69.7%

Neurological condition

20

9.2%

Other diagnosis

34

15.6%

Not known4

23

10.6%

Receiving palliative care at time of application?

Yes

161

73.9%

No

55

25.2%

Not stated

2

0.9%

 

Notes:

  1. Total ethnicity has been used. This means that individuals reporting more than one ethnicity are included within each category to which they identify.
  2. Total diagnosis has been used. This means that individuals presenting with multiple diagnoses are included within each applicable diagnostic category.
  3. Repeat applications are included as unique instances. This means, in cases where an individual submits multiple applications during this period, their information is recorded in the demographic data each time.
  4. ‘Diagnosis not known’ includes individuals who have applied but have not yet completed their first assessment with their AMP as well as those that withdrew, died before this assessment was completed, or were ineligible due to not having a terminal illness.

Assisted deaths by location

Between 1 October 2022 and 31 December 2022, 101 people had an assisted death. Assisted deaths can take place at the person’s home or in the community. The summary by location is:

  • 85 (or 84.2%) at the person’s home or another private residence
  • 7 (or 6.9%) in a public hospital
  • 7 (or 6.9%) in an aged care facility
  • 2 (or 2.0%) in a hospice facility.

SCENZ Group practitioner lists

The Support and Consultation for End of Life in New Zealand group (SCENZ group) are responsible for maintaining the list of medical practitioners and psychiatrists involved in providing assisted dying services.

Medical practitioners can be on the SCENZ list for more than one role, depending on their scope of practice (AMP, IMP, Psychiatrist).

As of 31 December 2022, 116 medical practitioners (including Doctors, and Psychiatrists) and 12 attending Nurse Practitioners (ANP) were on the SCENZ group list. A growing number of health practitioners have chosen to provide services as an AMP for their own patients without registering to be included as a SCENZ member. A portion of these health practitioners have subsequently chosen to join the SCENZ group, and to make themselves available to additional patients.

Disclaimer

An earlier version of this quarterly report was published with a validation error. The report has since been corrected as of 12 November 2024 to remove duplicate applications