Physician-assisted dying

Abstract

The term physician-assisted dying refers to where, at the request of a mentally competent person, a medical practitioner actively hastens death, by either providing the means by which the patient can take drugs themselves, or directly administering the drugs by injection. An example  of prospective legislation for physician-assisted dying in  New Zealand, consistent with several other legalised jurisdictions, can be found in Maryan Street’s End of Life Choice Bill (2012). Under this bill, individuals may seek medical assistance to die under defined circumstances.