New Zealand voted into law the End of Life Choice Act 2019 in the September 2020 referendum. Rotorua Community Hospice has taken an organisational position of conscientious objection and will not be providing euthanasia services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have taken this position because we fully support the philosophy of hospice to aim to neither hasten nor postpone death and we believe that euthanasia does not have a place in palliative care. We believe with good support people can live well until they die, and their family and wh\u0101nau can be an important part of this time and need support also.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Please be assured Rotorua Community Hospice will continue to provide palliative care for all people with a life limiting condition, their family and wh\u0101nau, regardless of a desire for assisted dying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We acknowledge and respect a person\u2019s right to make choices that are best for themselves, particularly around end of life. However, no Rotorua Community Hospice staff will be involved in the administration and will not be present during the administration of euthanasia medications. Euthanasia medications cannot and will not be administered on any Rotorua Community Hospice premises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Any requests for euthanasia made to Rotorua Community Hospice employees from patients of Rotorua Community Hospice will be managed according to the obligations under the Act and we will ensure there is clarity on our position with any patient upon their referral to hospice services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you want further information about assisted dying, you can view the Community Information sheet on the Ministry\u2019s website https:\/\/www.health.govt.nz\/our-work\/regulation-health-and-disability-system\/end-life-choice-act<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our staff can be asked questions about assisted dying and they will provide answers that adhere to the guidelines of the End of Life Choice Act. The Act is clear that the person requesting assisted dying must be the one to raise it first. Our staff are not able to suggest assisted dying as an option or initiate discussion about assisted dying unless the person has done so first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you ask us about End of Life choices we will communicate in the following way:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Rotorua Community Hospice conscientiously objects to euthanasia and we are unable to help you with your inquiry. The Act establishes the SCENZ Group to oversee a range of responsibilities related to assisted dying. These responsibilities include making and maintaining a list of health practitioners who are willing to provide assisted dying services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Discussions about euthanasia can raise many questions and concerns. Below we have highlighted some questions and answers that we have been asked previously or believe will be relevant.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 You can contact the Support and Consultation for End of Life in New Zealand (SCENZ) Group for the name and contact details of a medical practitioner who is willing to participate in assisted dying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n