End of Life Choice Act 2019

Version as at 28 October 2021

Coat of Arms of New Zealand

End of Life Choice Act 2019

Public Act
 
2019 No 67
Date of assent
 
16 November 2019
Commencement
 
see section 2
Note

The Parliamentary Counsel Office has made editorial and format changes to this version using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.

Note 4 at the end of this version provides a list of the amendments included in it.

This Act is administered by the Ministry of Health.

Contents

1Title
2Commencement
Part 1
Preliminary provisions
3Purpose of Act
4Interpretation
5Meaning of person who is eligible for assisted dying or eligible person
6Meaning of competent to make an informed decision about assisted dying
7Act binds the Crown
Part 2
Assisted dying
8Conscientious objection
9Effect of conscientious objection by attending medical practitioner
10Assisted dying must not be initiated by health practitioner
11Request made
12Request confirmed
13First opinion to be given by attending medical practitioner
14Second opinion to be given by independent medical practitioner
15Third opinion to be given by psychiatrist if competence not established to satisfaction of 1 or both medical practitioners
16Opinion reached that person is not eligible for assisted dying
17Opinion reached that person is eligible for assisted dying
18Eligible person to choose date and time for administration of medication
19Provisional arrangements for administration of medication
20Administration of medication
21Death to be reported
22Destruction of prescription if no longer required
23No further action to be taken if person rescinds request to exercise option of receiving assisted dying
24No further action to be taken if pressure suspected
Part 3
Accountability
25SCENZ Group
26Review Committee
27Registrar (assisted dying)
28Persons to provide information to Registrar
29Minister must present to House of Representatives copy of report under section 27
30Review of operation of Act
Part 4
Related matters
31Regulations
32Other rights and duties not affected
33Advance directive, etc, may not provide for assisted dying
34Welfare guardians have no power to make decisions or take actions under this Act
35Effect on contracts of death under this Act
36Restrictions on making public details of assisted dying deaths
37Immunity from criminal liability
38Immunity from civil liability
39Offences
40Director-General may approve forms
41Amendments to other enactments
Schedule
Amendments to other enactments
Notes

The Parliament of New Zealand enacts as follows: