2 February 2021

Kia ora koutou katoa

Invitation to participate in End of Life Choice Act Workforce Survey

The End of Life Choice Act 2019 (the Act) comes into force on 7 November 2021.

The Act gives people who experience unbearable suffering from a terminal illness, and who meet all the criteria for assisted dying set out in the Act, the option of legally asking for medical assistance to end their lives. The Act includes safeguards to ensure anyone seeking this assistance is making an informed decision of their own accord.

The Ministry of Health has established a new team to manage the implementation and oversight of the Act and is developing a work programme to manage all aspects of implementation. Our team will be working closely with the health and disability sector to further develop the implementation work programme throughout 2021.  

Further information on the Act can be found at the website below:
www.health.govt.nz/our-work/regulation-health-and-disability-system/end-life-choice-act

Implementation of the assisted dying service – workforce survey

One of the first priorities for us is to better understand the views of health practitioners with a specified role under the Act, in relation to assisted dying. A short survey has been designed to give us an early indication of workforce knowledge, understanding and attitudes towards the Act.   

Learning about the number of health practitioners who may choose to have a role in the assisted dying service, the settings they currently work in and any specific concerns they may have in relation to the Act will help inform the design, planning, and implementation of the system.  
Health practitioners have a right to conscientiously object to providing assisted dying services. It’s important to note that any response to this survey is not a confirmation of a choice to either participate in, or opt out of, the service. The results will help inform our approach to workforce development for an assisted dying service. Responses will not be individually identified by the Ministry.  

The survey can be accessed at the link below. The survey is optional and closes on 28 February.

https://consult.health.govt.nz/regulatory-assurance/5b8bd6c8

More information about the implementation of the Act will be shared over the coming weeks. In the meantime, any questions regarding the survey or the implementation of the Act can be directed to [email protected].


Ngā mihi
The End of Life Choice Act team

Health System Improvement & Innovation, Ministry of Health

l www.moh.govt.nz