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How the service is delivered

Assisted dying is a free service and the Te Whatu Ora is responsible for overseeing the provision and funding of assisted dying services. Any medical or nurse practitioner who is suitably qualified, and willing to provide this service, will be able to deliver parts of the assisted dying service, and make payment claims for these modules services. Assisted dying services are most likely to be provided in a person’s home or other community setting, rather than in a hospital setting. A person’s medical or nurse practitioner can travel to the person to provide care and will be funded for travel costs.

For more information see: Information for health professionals. 

Assisted dying services are delivered through medical and nurse practitioners, working with the Assisted Dying Services Team at Te Whatu Ora. Working alongside the team at Te Whatu Ora is the Support and Consultation for End of Life New Zealand (SCENZ) Group,  which maintains a list of medical and nurse practitioners, and psychiatrists involved in providing assisted dying services. Medical and nurse practitioners who wish to only provide assisted dying services to people already in their care do not have to be on the lists held by the SCENZ Group.

See also: Assisted dying training resources for health professionals

As with other health services, practitioners need to have the right skills and knowledge to provide assisted dying services.

Funding model for assisted dying services

Medical and nurse practitioners working in primary care, private practice and other non- regional settings who provide parts of the service can receive funding on a fee-for-service basis for the parts of the process they provide. 

This printable information sheet for medical and nurse practitioners has information about the funding and delivery model for providing assisted dying services: 

Detailed information about claiming payment through the Assisted Dying Services Notice 2021, including a user guide to the funding mechanism, is available on the Assisted Dying Service provision and payment page.

For questions, email the Assisted Dying Service team at AssistedDying@health.govt.nz.

Conscientious objection

Any health practitioner may conscientiously object to providing or supporting the provision of assisted dying services. Regardless of personal belief, health practitioners must understand and meet their legal and professional obligations under the End of Life Choice Act 2019, and ensure continuity of care is maintained for the person and access to lawful medical treatment is not being inhibited.

Health practitioners who conscientiously object to assisted dying should be prepared to respond appropriately if assisted dying is raised with them by someone in their care.

If a medical practitioner with a conscientious objection is asked by a person in their care about assisted dying, they have certain responsibilities under the Act. They must:

  • inform the person of their objection, and
  • tell the person they have the right to ask the SCENZ Group for the name and contact details of a medical practitioner who is willing to participate in assisted dying.

Health practitioners are encouraged to support a person to access assisted dying services by connecting the person to an appropriate medical practitioner. This may be through a referral, telling them about the SCENZ Group, or providing contact details to access the assisted dying services. 

If a person would like help to find a medical practitioner they can contact the SCENZ Group and the Assisted Dying Service team on 0800 223 852 or AssistedDying@health.govt.nz.

Assisted Dying Service secretariat

Manatū Hauora (the Ministry of Health) has an assisted dying secretariat to support and oversee Assisted Dying Services.

The Registrar (assisted dying) and Deputy Registrars are part of the secretariat. The role of the Registrars includes checking that the processes required under the Act have been complied with and to ensure people who wish to receive assisted dying are eligible. They then notify the attending medical practitioner when they are satisfied that the processes have been complied with before the medical practitioner can administer assisted dying medication.

Clinical advisors within the Assisted Dying Services team at Te Whatu Ora provide support and information to those navigating the assisted dying service, and also provide pastoral support following the assisted death.

Te Whatu Ora and the secretariat work with the SCENZ Group by identifying appropriate practitioners to undertake the assessment process from the SCENZ lists. 

Assisted dying is a sensitive topic and may be difficult for some people. Please talk to your employer if you need support, including access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).