The Ministry of Health has published the Registrar (assisted dying) Annual Report to the Minister of Health, covering the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.
The Registrar (assisted dying) is a statutory role and works closely with the Ministry of Health’s Assisted Dying Secretariat. Its work includes checking that the processes required by the Act have been complied with.
The report shows that 344 people had an assisted death between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.
Over that period, there were 834 new formal applications for assisted dying. The current report also contains information for 111 applications which were ongoing at the end of the last Registrar report.
A total of 945 applications were active during the reporting period, representing an 11% increase from the previous year.
The Registrar (assisted dying) and the Secretariat at the Ministry of Health received 15 complaints over the course of the year.
The Health and Disability Commissioner received seven complaints during the year, including two that were referred by the Ministry. One of these was also referred to the New Zealand Medical Council and the New Zealand Police by the Ministry.
The End of Life Choice Act is the law that makes assisted dying legal in New Zealand. It came into force on 7 November 2021, following a public referendum that was held alongside the 2020 General Election.
New Zealanders are now invited to share their views on the End of Life Choice Act as part of a review of the Act. Online consultation is open till 5pm on Thursday 26 September 2024.
