End of Life (EOL) Choice Act (NZ)

The End of Life Choice Act (EOLCA) 2019 was an Act of Parliament in New Zealand that sought to give people with a terminal illness the option of receiving assisted dying.

ACT New Zealand MP David Seymour entered it into the member's bill ballot on 14 October 2015.

A binding referendum was held and, with a majority of voters voting in favour, the Act came into force on 7 November 2021. The current NZ law can be strengthened.

In Sept 2024, ACT Party MP Todd Stephenson lodged a new bill to remove the six-month eligibility clause in the EOLCA claiming that it does not cater sufficiently for those who have a terminal illness diagnosis which extends beyond six months.

Suggested readings

When I began my research five years ago, there seemed to be very little on the subject. But since then more and more publications have appeared - and these readings are just the beginning ...

This book was published in 2021 and I bought a copy in 2022. It provides an excellent overview of what VSED is and the scientific, medical, moral and ethical arguments around it. If you are looking to understand what VSED is, you will find many answers therein. For me, one of the salient points made is that VSED is a legal end of life option yet most people do not know this. It's complicated but the book takes care to provide full explanations.

At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade's

training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with

inoperable lung cancer. One day he was a doctor treating the dying, the next he was a patient struggling to live. What do you do when when life is catastrophically interrupted? What does it mean to have a child as your own life fades away? Paul Kalanithi died while working on this profoundly moving book, yet his words live on as a guide to us all. When Breath Becomes Air is a life-affirming reflection on facing our mortality and on the relationship between doctor and patient, from a gifted writer who became both.

Sean Davison was convicted of assisting his mother to end her life but through that process was moved to found the organisation DignitySA (in South Africa). This 2022 publication explores his work and life and how he has advocated for the individual's right to die.

The title is self-explanatory even if the message is somewhat

provocative and challenging. An interesting approach.

This book was published before the EOLCA 2019 came into force and considers the viewpoints of many different stakeholders and experts. The insights and examination of viewpoints should give you much to reflect on. I voted in favour of the EOLCA but the book's author takes a negative stance. We must talk about death and dying a great deal more so that the legislation can be enhanced to provide greater safeguards.

The overall message of this publication is about initiating a

conversation with family, medical practitioners and loved ones about your end of life wishes. This is not something that we have ever done or, if you have, we are not very good at.

Published in 2016, this book looks at the life of someone who is

preparing for their death after a cancer diagnosis. The author reveals her investigation of, and search for, alternative end-of-life choices. It is told with brutal honesty and is a must-read.

Shared death experiences (SDEs) have existed as long as recorded history and we all know that ancient societies practised rich death and burial practices. This publication comprises a well-research collection of case studies which illustrate the impact of SDEs. I found it a fascinating read.

This publication contains an insightful look at the onset and development of dementia and how Gerda has responded to it. She also covers end of life choices as she discusses her future.

This PhD thesis by Dr. Jessica Young interviews and collates the views of people who are approaching end of life and includes comment from some of their family members.

To read the thesis, click on the image above - permission has been granted.

Let's Talk About Death | Isabel Merrin | TEDxTufts | 2017

A Completed Life - Cover Option_23.01.25.jpg

Also a pretty good read! Buy it here:

https://www.amazon.com/Completed-Life-well-almost/dp/B0C52LZN3C