Hospice says no to assisted dying
Decisions being made as euthanasia law draws nearer
Tauranga’s Waipuna Hospice is one of three Bay of Plenty hospices that will not offer assisted dying services when the End of Life Choice Act comes into force in November.
From November 7, under the act a person who wishes to receive assisted dying and thinks they meet the eligibility criteria can ask a health practitioner about the process.
Health practitioners cannot raise assisted dying with a patient — the patient must raise the issue first.
The act allows health practitioners to adopt a conscientious objection and patients can ask the Support and Consultation for End of Life in NZ group being set up by the Ministry of Health for contact details of a replacement health practitioner.
Tauranga’s Waipuna Hospice chief executive Richard Thurlow said the organisation had chosen to make a “conscientious objection” to the act.
“Offering euthanasia services does not fit with the desired aims of our organisation and to do so would cause difficulties for medical practitioners and our nursing practitioners.
“The act does make our care provisions for patients incredibly complex. But we will continue to provide services to patients will compassion and sensitivity right up to the end of their life, while not blocking their choice.
“However, having that conversation after the act comes into force will be quite hard as an organisation,” he said. “It’s a very complex issue and I know my team is quite rightly concerned about the effects on patients and their relationships with them and their families.”
Age Concern Tauranga general manager Tanya Smith said the organisation was an apolitical group and it had not taken a position on the act.
“It is such a delicate subject and I think it comes down to a person’s individual choice.”
However, Smith said it was important people talked to their family and wha¯nau and discussed their end-oflife wishes and choices with their loved ones.
She said Age Concern was a strong advocate of people having advanced care plans in place no matter what their views were on assisted dying.
Tauranga Grey Power president Jennifer Custins said Grey Power had also not taken a position on the act but some members were strongly opposed to euthanasia.
“I’m not one of those in the ‘yes’ camp, while others clearly are, but it comes down to a person’s free choice.