A High Court judge says hospices will not be forced to provide assisted dying if New Zealanders vote to legalise voluntary euthanasia at this year’s general election.

The decision by Justice Jillian Mallon also says aspects of the End of Life Choice Act are causing confusion among health providers and Kiwis generally.

Hospice New Zealand had asked the court to rule on several questions, including whether organisations can conscientiously object to providing assisted dying, before Kiwis are asked in September to decide on what side of this debate they stand.

Justice Mallon said hospices and other organisations “are entitled to choose not to provide these services”.

“Hospices or other organisations that choose not to offer assisted dying services may employ or engage health practitioners on the basis that these services are not provided by the hospices or organisations, but it will also be necessary to have arrangements for how health practitioners can comply with their objections under the End of Life Choice Act if a request is made of them by a person in the hospice or organisation’s care.”