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NZ Herald
20-07-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
Big rise in demand for assisted dying in New Zealand – should we be worried?
On the face of it those figures can seem concerning, especially in the context of a stretched health system and difficulties in accessing palliative care in New Zealand. But they do not tell the whole story. The assisted dying regime is still relatively young and cases were always predicted to rise gradually each year before stabilising. Therefore, year-on-year increases are to be expected at this stage. Assisted deaths made up 1.25% of all deaths in New Zealand over the same period. That is in line with Ministry of Health predictions. In countries where assisted dying is more established, assisted deaths typically make up around 2% of all deaths. In its review of the law last year, the ministry modelled a 25% increase in applications in the year to June 2025, followed by 11-13% increases in subsequent years. If the rate of applications continued rising at 20% for multiple years, that could be a cause for concern. Another talking point from the registrar's report is the shrinking number of doctors who are willing to be involved in assisted dying. The list of doctors on the Support and Consultation for End of Life Choice Group (SCENZ) fell from 148 to 126 in the last year. It is important to note this is not a comprehensive total of doctors who can perform assisted dying in New Zealand. Any doctor can participate in assisted dying if the patient is already under their care. However, if a doctor is providing these services to a patient outside their practice, they need to be on the list. The fall in the number of SCENZ doctors raises some concern around access to assisted dying. The Herald has previously spoken to doctors who drive or fly across the country to assess patients because of the lack of willing doctors in some regions. It also raises equity issues. The latest figures show Māori and Pasifika patients are much less likely to have an assisted death. While that might come down to cultural or other differences in relation to assisted dying, officials will want to make sure the service is available to all people who want it, no matter their income or location. The registrar's report will also give more fuel to opponents of one of the most controversial aspects of the law: a rule requiring that a patient must have only six months to live to be eligible for assisted dying. Of the patients deemed ineligible in the last year, 85% were disqualified because of this rule (though they may have also failed other criteria). That is even higher than in previous years. Act Party MP Todd Stephenson has drafted a law change to scrap the rule, but it is at the mercy of the private member's bill ballot. One final thought: another way of looking at the latest data is that the health system is increasingly meeting demand for a wanted service that was supported in a public referendum. New Zealanders overwhelmingly backed 'death with dignity' or 'whakaahuru' (to die in a warm and comforting manner). The ministry review last year found that despite the law change, assisted dying was still not a normalised, recognised part of the health system. A rise in applications suggests assisted dying might – slowly – be becoming more mainstream. Isaac Davison is an Auckland-based reporter who covers health issues. He joined the Herald in 2008 and has previously covered the environment, politics and social issues. He has covered assisted dying issues since the End of Life Choice Act was first drafted. Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
18-07-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Euthanasia Numbers Soar Despite Tiny Workforce
The latest review of euthanasia has just been released by the Ministry of Health – and despite a tiny workforce, there has been a continued growth in the number of those receiving assisted suicide. Family First has analysed the Registrar (assisted dying) Annual Report – June 2025 Key findings include: 472 people had assisted suicide – up from 344 in the previous 12 months – a 37% increase in assisted deaths in the last 12 months, and a 57% increase since the first full year of operation (2022). 20% increase in applications 80% NZ European/Pākehā. Virtually no Pasifika (<0.5%) and disproportionately few Māori (5%) 12% of applicants had a disability 242 applicants died before 'needing' euthanasia the application process continues to shorten, now averaging only 14 days – down from 16 days in the previous report less than 10% of applicants are for neurological conditions (the conditions frequently touted by proponents as the reason for needing euthanasia) 85% of applicants are deemed eligible by the attending medical practitioner 95% of second assessments (of those 85%) by an independent medical practitioner are deemed eligible On the positive side, the report says: 'There have been occasions on which a person's request for assisted dying has led to them exploring alternative care or services, such as optimising palliative care or additional social or wrap-around supports. In some cases, this resulted in the person rescinding (withdrawing) their application for assisted dying.' The report says that 33 people subsequently decided to withdraw their application. The report also highlights the very low number of medical professionals willing to be involved in euthanasia / assisted suicide – approximately 126 – despite attempts by the SCENZ to bolster the workforce. This is not surprising given the Hippocratic Oath / Declaration of Geneva made by medical professionals. Assisting suicide clashes with this ethical base. What is most disturbing is that more than one in five applicants (21%) weren't receiving palliative care. The End of Life Choice Act only provides a 'right' to one choice – premature death. There is no corresponding right to palliative care. Good palliative care and hospice services are resource intensive; euthanasia would be cheaper. There is a new element of 'financial calculation' into decisions about end-of-life care. This is harsh reality. At an individual level, the economically disadvantaged who don't have access to better healthcare could feel pressured to end their lives because of the cost factor or because other better choices are not available to them. Some hospitals have no specialist palliative care services at all. Of those deemed ineligible for euthanasia, 85% was because they didn't meet the 6-month criteria, and approximately 40% also didn't meet either the 'unbearable suffering' or the 'irreversible physical decline' requirement. The other significant red flag in the report is that just 10 applicants had a psychiatric assessment to check for both competence to make the decision, and for any presence of coercion. This latest data simply confirms that nothing in the law guarantees the protection required for vulnerable people facing their death, including the disabled, elderly, depressed or anxious, and those who feel themselves to be a burden or who are under financial pressure. The NZ Herald recently reported: ' A specialist paediatric palliative care (PPC) doctor says New Zealand is falling behind other nations in its care of terminally ill children and the Government must step up to help.' And the demand for this specialist medical care will only increase significantly in the near future. Our population is ageing, and therefore the number of people requiring palliative care is forecast to increase by approximately 25% over the next 15 years and will be more than double that by 2061. Previous Governments have made little effort to address this growing problem and to increase funding for this essential service. Euthanasia is instead given priority and full Government funding. It's time we focused on and fully funded world-class palliative care – and not a lethal injection. We can live without euthanasia.
