The views of Aotearoa/New Zealand adults over 60 years regarding the End of Life Choice Act 2019

Abstract

This study described the views of older New Zealand adults toward assisted dying and specifically the End of Life Choice Act (2019), an Act making assisted dying legal. An anonymous postal and online survey of 636 adults 60 years and older was conducted. The majority of respondents did not support legalization (85.7%), while 8.8% were in favor (5.5% did not specify a view). Weighted binary logistic regression indicated that the odds of support for legalization were lower in those respondents with a religious affiliation (OR =.020, S.E. = 0.60, p =.00), and there were 2.66 times greater odds in those identifying as male (S.E. = 0.34, p =.005). On the other hand, those respondents under 65 years had increased odds of supporting legalization (OR = 1.89, S.E. =.029, p =.045). Results indicate that most participants were concerned about potential abuses and coercive practices if assisted dying became legally available in New Zealand.