New Zealanders' attitudes towards physician-assisted dying

Abstract

This was the first study to ask New Zealanders if assisting patients to die is ever an appropriate action for a physician, if it should ever be legal and what factors influence this decision. Respondents were 323 people living in New Zealand, aged 18 years and over who were randomly selected from the electoral roll. They completed an anonymous questionnaire consisting of 11 vignettes, two featuring the respondents themselves, eight featuring patients who were terminally ill and one with a patient that was physically disabled but not terminally ill. They were also asked about their opinion regarding the current legal status of assisted dying in New Zealand. Results show that 78% of respondents felt assisted dying was the most appropriate response in certain situations and 84% felt it should be legalised. This highlights the high value respondents place on patient autonomy and the availability of choice in order to avoid needless suffering. However, respondents also saw the need for strict eligibility criteria to restrict access so that only patients who are experiencing extreme, unbearable and hopeless suffering can legally be granted assistance in dying. They also saw the need to identify patients who could benefit from other forms of treatment such as those who are severely depressed. The only factors measured that predicted attitudes were religion and ethnicity, however their influence was weak. Furthermore, when asked directly, respondents did not believe either religious principles or cultural beliefs played an important role in these decisions. This study has highlighted the complexity of New Zealanders’ attitudes towards hastening death. It has also uncovered the pressing need for more New Zealand specific research; studies that assess the impact other factors could potentially have on the decision making process, and the potential role for healthcare professionals other than physicians in the assisted dying process. Furthermore, there is a need for research using indigenous methodologies to ensure this issue has been considered from a M!ori worldview.