Bay hospices won't offer euthanasia
“However, I think there is still a lot of uncertainty about how the legislation will work in practice and I believe it needs to be tightened in a couple of areas.”
One area of concern was how much reliance the decision-maker would have on a vulnerable person’s insistence the choice was uninfluenced by family, she said.
Custins said her other concern was the right to privacy which could see a person opt for assisted dying without having discussed their wishes with their family or support person.
Rotorua Community Hospice chief executive Jonathon Hagger said the organisation, which had 350 referrals a year, would not be providing euthanasia services.
“We have taken this position because we fully support the philosophy and aim of hospice which is to neither hasten nor postpone death.
“We believe with good support people can live well until they die, and their family and wha¯nau can be an important part of this time.”
Hospice Eastern Bay of Plenty chief executive Peter Bassett said his branch of hospice endorsed the position taken by Rotorua Community Hospice.
“We support people with lifelimiting illnesses and specialise in delivering palliative care services to them . . . We’re not experts in euthanasia services.”
Bassett said any patients who wished to explore assisted dying would be referred to the Ministry of Health SCENZ group to enable them to make an informed choice.
He said no matter what someone’s views on euthanasia it was important people had an advanced care plan detailing their wishes ahead of them nearing the end of their life.
The Cancer Society of New Zealand, which does not provide palliative care, has also taken a “neutral position” on the act coming into force.
“It is the Cancer Society’s view that a critical focus should be to better support people nearing the end of life and their wha¯nau.”
The Ministry of Health spokesman said the ministry had a programme of work under way to manage the implementation of the act and establish an assisted dying service.
“Assisted dying will be an entirely new service within the health and disability system.
“It is not a replacement for the required delivery of appropriate palliative care services . . . and the Ministry of Health is working with the Government to improve the quality and equity of palliative care services as separate to the required implementation of this act.”
Nominations for the Support and Consultation for End of Life in NZ group recently closed and selection processes were under way, with the director general of health appointing members, the ministry spokesman said. The group is expected to be established next month with responsibilities relating to doctors, nurse practitioners, psychiatrists and pharmacies involved in delivering assisted dying services.