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75% support medical assistance to die

18 Jun 17

Credit: NZ Herald

Strong voter support for end of life choice

Three-quarters of New Zealand voters support a law change to allow the terminally ill and people with irreversible unbearable suffering to be helped to end their lives peacefully.

These are the findings of an Horizon poll conducted nationwide between May 16-23, 2017, among 1,274 people aged 18 and over. The results were weighted to represent the New Zealand adult population at the most recent census. At a 95% confidence level, the maximum margin of error on the overall sample is +/- 2.7%.

Support for medical assistance to die for those suffering from end-stage terminal illness and irreversible unbearable suffering was 75% overall, with only 11% opposed.

The sample of people polled was also measured by the party vote they exercised in the 2014 election. Strongest support for a law change for those suffering end stage terminal illness came from National voters (83%) and Labour voters (82%), with 77% of Green voters, 69 % of NZ First voters, 66% of Maori Party voters and 71% of ACT voters.

There is also majority support across all age groups with the largest support (82%) coming from 65-74 year olds, with 8 % opposed.

Irreversible conditions:

Polling of another possible policy option found overall support was also very strong for medical assistance to die for people who had irreversible conditions, such as motor neurone disease, which may not cause death in the immediate future, with 66% in favour and 15% opposed or strongly opposed.

“MPs need to consider these results as they listen to their constituents, in the lead-up to the September General Election,” said Maryan Street, President of the End of Life Choice Society.

“Not only does this poll show increased support for end of life choice since the last time it was conducted on my own bill in 2012, when 63% were in favour, it shows how small the opposition is by comparison. This is a testament to the compassion of New Zealanders,” she said.

Summary results follow. Download Horizon's report here.

Contact: Maryan Street 021 977 555 President EOLC Society

END OF LIFE CHOICE SURVEY – MAY 2017
Q.1 Do you support a law change to allow medical practitioners to assist people to die, where a request has come from a mentally competent patient, 18 years or over, who has end stage terminal disease and irreversible unbearable suffering, e.g. cancer?
Overall	Strongly support	Support	Neither support nor oppose	Oppose	Strongly oppose	I’m not sure
	46%	29%	8%	3%	8%	6%

By Ethnicity	Strongly support	Support	Neither support nor oppose	Oppose	Strongly oppose	I’m not sure
Asian	22%	27%	15%	5%	9%	23%
Indian	44%	20%	9%	0%	26%	2%
Maori	45%	26%	13%	5%	5%	7%
NZ Pakeha	49%	30%	6%	3%	8%	5%
Other European	45%	41%	6%	1%	4%	3%
Pacific Islands	17%	46%	4%	5%	13%	16%
All ethnicities	46%	29%	8%	3%	8%	6%

By Gender	Strongly support	Support	Neither support nor oppose	Oppose	Strongly oppose	I’m not sure
Female	49%	28%	7%	3%	6%	7%
Male	41%	31%	10%	4%	10%	4%

By Party Vote 2014	Strongly support	Support	Neither support nor oppose	Oppose	Strongly oppose	I’m not sure
ACT	66%	5%	0%	0%	8%	21%
Green	49%	28%	15%	1%	5%	2%
Labour	48%	34%	8%	2%	5%	4%
Maori	26%	40%	5%	16%	8%	4%
National	51%	32%	5%	4%	6%	2%
NZ First	43%	26%	9%	5%	14%	3%
United	11%	47%	10%	0%	32%	0%

Q.2 Do you support a law change to allow medical practitioners to assist people to die, where such a request has come from a mentally competent patient, 18 years and over, who has irreversible unbearable suffering which may not cause death in the immediate future, e.g.: motor neurone disease?
	Strongly support	Support	Neither support nor oppose	Oppose	Strongly oppose	I’m not sure
Overall	33%	33%	15%	6%	9%	5%

By Ethnicity	Strongly support	Support	Neither support nor oppose	Oppose	Strongly oppose	I’m not sure
Asian	8%	24%	29%	7%	9%	23%
Indian	13%	2%	52%	6%	27%	0%
Maori	34%	28%	19%	8%	5%	6%
NZ Pakeha	34%	36%	11%	5%	9%	5%
Other European	37%	24%	20%	11%	6%	2%
Pacific Islands	8%	41%	11%	7%	13%	19%
All ethnicities	33%	33%	15%	6%	9%	5%

By Gender	Strongly support	Support	Neither support nor oppose	Oppose	Strongly oppose	I’m not sure
Female	33%	35%	12%	6%	7%	7%
Male	32%	31%	18%	5%	10%	4%

By Party Vote 2014	Strongly support	Support	Neither support nor oppose	Oppose	Strongly oppose	I’m not sure
ACT	59%	3%	2%	7%	8%	21%
Green	0%	31%	24%	18%	18%	9%
Labour	38%	33%	17%	2%	6%	5%
Maori	22%	22%	27%	14%	10%	5%
National	37%	35%	13%	5%	7%	2%
NZ First	33%	30%	9%	5%	16%	7%
United	5%	49%	15%	0%	32%	0%

Percentages are rounded and may not add to 100% in all instances.

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