A binding referendum was held in conjunction with the 2020 general election on whether the act should come into force,[8] with a majority of voters (65%) in favour.

The medical practitioner must complete a prescribed form after talking to the patient about the prognosis of their illness; the irreversible nature of assisted dying and its impacts; and alternative options for end-of-life care.

Written submissions to the Justice Select Committee on the End of Life Choice Bill were received until midnight on 6 March 2018.

From National, Guy, Hipango, Tolley and Walker changed from for to against, while Collins and Yule decided to reverse their opposition.

Key amendments include prohibiting a health practitioner from initiating any discussion about assisted dying, giving employment protections for any doctor, nurse, or psychiatrist who objects to taking part in the process on any ground, and a provision for doctors and nurses to stop the process if they suspect any pressure is being applied on the person seeking assisted dying.

Penk's proposal to have tighter provisions against coercion including getting a "sign-off" from a specialist panel was defeated by 71 to 49 votes.

[57] New Zealand First MP Jenny Marcroft proposed an amendment to include a referendum on the grounds that euthanasia "directly affected the fabric of society" and that "temporarily empowered politicians... alone should not decide on the bill."

In response, Labour MP Louisa Wall criticised NZ First for placing MPs who supported the bill but opposed the referendum in an "untenable position".

She also accused NZ First of using the proposed referendum as a bargaining chip for securing the party's support for the third reading of the End of Life Choice Bill scheduled for November 2019.

[63] These preliminary results found 65.2% of people in support of the End of Life Choice Act with 33.8% opposed.