Unpacking the End of Life Choice Act 2019
If the Referendum on the End of Life Choice Act passes, it will be enacted in its current form. Just how safe is this law?
unpack the issue
The End of Life Choice Act 2019 seeks to legalise euthanasia and assisted suicide. Explore the issues below, including analysis of the Justice Select Committee submissions on the bill, mental health experts’ opinions, events in New Zealand and NZ law that have shaped the current debate, and what has happened overseas.
Disability, Mental Illness, And The EOLC Act
Why are we worried about disability and mental illness, when you can’t access euthanasia and assisted suicide just because you are disabled or have a mental illness? Let's unpack this.
Suicide Risks of the End of Life Choice Act
In 2019, mental health experts and researchers wrote an open letter to MPs highlighting the risk that introducing assisted dying would increase suicides.
Seales v Attorney-General case
In this 2015 High Court case, the Care Alliance was granted "intervener" status and presented evidence and submissions to assist the Court.
Justice Select Committee Submissions
38,707 submissions on whether the End of Life Choice Bill should be introduced were made by the New Zealand public. 90.2% of the submissions were opposed to the Bill. Find out more about the statistics and key themes that emerged.