The assessment of competency and coercion in the End of Life Choice Act 2019.

The eligibility criteria of the End of Life Choice Act 2019 specify the person must be competent to make an informed decision about assisted dying. The patient must initiate the conversation about assisted dying, and then it is incumbent on health professionals to perform a skilled exploration of the person's suffering and rationale. The legal standards for competence must be met. Common mental health and cognitive disorders that may impact on decision-making must be recognised. The context and the authenticity and consistency in choice are important elements. Education and training of involved health practitioners is required to ensure the assessment process is robust. A comprehensive approach is necessary to determine the autonomy of the decision and for the protection of the rights of the individual.