Family incorrectly advised assisted death criteria would not be met - 22HDC00848

In a report released today, Health and Disability Commissioner Morag McDowell provides adverse comment on a GP regarding access to assisted dying and determination of competence to make an informed decision to choose an assisted death.

Ms McDowell considered that the GP who concluded that the man did not meet the competence requirements for an assisted death undertook an assessment of the man’s competence, albeit informal, without having the appropriate knowledge and information of the assisted dying competence assessment process.