Battle brews on easing euthanasia law

• Author: Isaac Davison analysis
• Published date: 22 July 2022
• Publication title: Whanganui Chronicle

The first detailed report by the Ministry of Health has been published, providing an early glimpse of how the law is working in practice and whether opponents’ worst fears have eventuated

The rate of deaths (four or five a week) and the type of people applying (mostly white, older, cancer patients) are in line with similar jurisdictions overseas.

There have been no breaches of the End of Life Choice Act so far, but there have been a handful of complaints, including one which was serious enough to be elevated to the Health and Disability Commissioner.

Some of the more headline-grabbing concerns about legalising euthanasia have not come to pass.

One concern from opponents was that patients could be “dead by the weekend”. National...