OPINION
Conversation around the End of Life Choice Act has often focused on a desire to be compassionate at the end of life, which is an excellent place to start.
But it is important to consider what compassion at the end of life looks like and the context and cost of the "compassionate response" of assisted suicide.
Over the last four years I've spoken to many medical professionals whose day-to-day job is caring for people at the end of life. Every one of them has said that when Hospice and palliative care is available and done well, the process of dying doesn't need to be painful or scary for people with terminal illness.
Unfortunately, while our palliative care in cities and large towns is world class, the availability of this care elsewhere in New Zealand is patchy. The overwhelming majority of doctors and nurses who spend every day offering palliative care to people who are dying are convinced a more effective approach would be to improve access to this kind of care for all New Zealanders before we offer assisted suicide.
In fact, in 2015 when Scotland considered assisted dying legislation, they also heard this perspective. They found that "there are ways of responding to suffering (such as increased focus on palliative care and supporting those with disabilities) which do not raise the kind of concerns about crossing a legal and ethical 'Rubicon' that are raised by assisted suicide". They rejected assisted dying, and focused on improving their palliative care services instead.