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Tōtara Hospice and New Zealand’s End-of-Life Choice Act 2019

Assisted dying has been legal in New Zealand since November 7th 2021.

Tōtara Hospice does not conscientiously object to assisted dying. We host assisted dying services for eligible patients who wish to access this legal choice, supporting them to access this in a seamless way, and continue to care for them and their whānau/families up until death and beyond.

We believe in great palliative care, and in the human rights of each patient as a unique human being, and we will always:

  • Trust our patients to make choices about care that best meets their needs with us as their care-partner.
  • Provide patient-centred care.
  • Support patients to live well, die well and to have control of their choices right to the end of their life.
  • Support their family/whānau to live well throughout.


As our patient here at Tōtara Hospice:

  • You are the driver of your own journey. Our role is to give you the best chance to be yourself, to have your own needs, goals, and desires met and to make informed choices about your care in partnership with us.
  • If you wish to access assisted dying, we will host this service and support you and your family/whānau.  It is important to note that under the Act, you must raise the topic of assisted dying first.  Our staff are not legally able to raise the topic first. Staff are trained to provide the correct information.  Staff cannot directly or indirectly encourage or discourage a patient in the care of Tōtara Hospice to ask about or access assisted dying services 

Links:
https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/regulation-health-and-disability-system/end-life-choice-act-implementation

https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2019/0067/latest/whole.html

 

Watch Tōtara Hospice CE Tina McCafferty and medical director Dr James Jap explain to Jack Tame on Q&A why they’ll be the only hospice in the country to offer assisted dying services.