Media Release 21 July 2022

The End of Life Choice Act 2019 allows doctors to kill their patients with a lethal injection or to assist in their suicide. This legislation allows doctors to avoid being charged with homicide.

 The first annual report on the number of vulnerable patients that have been killed with the permission of the government reveals that 146 patients were killed by doctors who were generously paid by the state for their services.

 The report was presented to the Minister of Health, Andrew Little, by the Registrar of Assisted Dying, Dr Kristin Good. The report covers the period from 7th November 2021 to the 31st March 2022. The MOH’s website Assisted Dying Service Data and Reporting section provides further information.

The government of Jacinda Ardern has authorised and funded the killing of these patients whose lives were considered not worthy of living. These patients were killed with a lethal injection or assisted in their suicide by a doctor employed by the State. The government has a special unit in the Ministry of Health with seven full time staff to oversee and promote euthanasia. There is no unit to promote palliative care which is substantially underfunded.

ACT’s Deputy Leader and Health spokesperson Brooke van Velden was pleased with the report and said, “I’m proud of the work ACT and David Seymour did to champion the End of Life Choice Act through parliament and through a nationwide referendum. “

The government pays doctors up to $3000 for each patient they give a lethal injection to or assist in suicide. Treasury would confirm that it is cheaper to kill patients than to provide palliative care for them.

The government promotes euthanasia, which is fully funded as giving patients a right to choose. This so-called ‘right’ will ultimately become a duty to die, when we become a burden on the state.

Right to Life believes that the End of Life Choice Act actually empowers doctors to kill their patients, violates their medical ethics and avoids their prosecution for murder. Doctors who wish to be trained serial killers become the most dangerous people in the land.

This annual report should fill us with terror and apprehension as we consider living in a state where the government  is prepared to decide who should live and who shall be killed, all under the guise of a health service. When the government assumes the right to decide whose lives are of value and who may be killed, we are then living in a tyrannical state, which is prepared to violate medical ethics in order to force medical practitioners to become state executioners.

The report reveals:-

• 101 people were still in the process of assessment or preparation for assisted dying
• 153 people did not continue the process (due to being ineligible, withdrawing or dying)
• 146 people had an assisted death.

As of 31 March 2022:

• 78.6% of people that apply for assisted dying are NZ European/Pakeha
• 55.3% are women
• 74.3% are aged 65 years or older
• 64.6% have a cancer diagnosis

The locations where euthanasia or assisted dying was carried out were as follows:

• 113 (or 79.0%) at the person’s home or another private residence
• 13 (or 9.1%) in an aged care facility
• 11 (or 7.7%) in a district health board facility
• 6 (or 4.2%) in a hospice facility.

Right To Life is committed to the repeal of the End of Life Choice Act 2019 . We will seek to expose it for the threat that it is to the most vulnerable. We will vigorously oppose the anticipated attempts by ACT to extend the scope of the killing to include those with a disability and the inclusion of advance directives. We will not rest until this evil legislation is repealed.

Ken Orr,

Spokesperson,

Right to Life NZ Inc.