Image Source - parliament.nz
New Zealand's electoral commission announced that voters had approved the "End Life Choice Act" legalizing active euthanasia in New Zealand. Over a million (62.5%) people voted in favor of legalization in a referendum held in last week.
The End of Life Act, approved in the New Zealand parliament last year with a condition that it be approved by 50% of voters in a referendum, allows people to choose to end their life if they have less than 6 months to live and have approval of 2 doctors. The assisted death must be done by their attending medical practitioner who must remain available until the patient passes away. The Act also outlines the discussion that must happen between the practitioner and the patient before assisted death is chosen. This includes explaining the patient the irreversibility of euthanasia. Medical practitioners must also encourage the patient rethink about their choice medical professionals and their family.
This Act will formally become law in November, 2021.