Euthanasia is legalized in New Zealand this Sunday

Euthanasia was legalized in New Zealand on Sunday, with nearly 65% ​​of voters voting in a referendum in favor of legalizing it.

While it’s not yet clear how many people will want to apply for the move, New Zealand’s Ministry of Health estimates About 950 people may request assisted dying each year, and 350 of those will receive treatmentAccording to New Zealand media items.

Two doctors must decide whether the patient has been properly informed to access assisted dying. In addition, only patients with a life-threatening condition of less than six months can apply, unless they are suffering intolerable suffering that cannot be relieved.

According to the deputy leader of the ACT Party – the group that promoted the passage of the law in the New Zealand Parliament -, Brooke van Velden, The move means the country will “provide compassion and end-of-life options for those who are now facing terrible suffering”.

About 6,000 health workers have completed the training module and 129 doctors and nurses have been approached. Practice applying euthanasiapick up items.

Of the toilets willing to provide assisted dying, 64 per cent are in the North Island and 34 per cent in the South Island.

The Ministry of Health has already warned that not all parts of the country have access to a toilet that can use euthanasia, although the relocation of medical professionals for this reason will be funded by the authorities.

Despite majority support for the measure, which compares its full funding to access to palliative care, some health workers have criticized the evidence as lacking.

Apart from New Zealand, there are six countries in the world where euthanasia is legal: Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Canada and Colombia.

(With information from Europa Press)

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