Disabled woman Margaret Page, who has refused food in an attempt to end her life, represents "the tip of the iceberg'' in a country which has not adopted voluntary euthanasia, Dignity New Zealand founder Lesley Martin says.
Mrs Page, 60, suffered a brain haemorrhage in 1991 which severely limited her speech and mobility.
A patient at Wellington's St John of God care home since 2006, she has now gone 11 days without food and with only a small amount of water.
Euthanasia advocate Ms Martin, who was jailed for 7-1/2 months for the attempted murder of her terminally ill mother in Wanganui in 1999, said she often spoke to individuals and families of those who were planning to end their lives.
"We see cases like this surface all the time, but they really are the tip of the iceberg. They don't necessarily make the media in this way.
"There are certainly many, many people who take the option Margaret has.''
Ms Martin said she had been contacted by Mrs Page's daughter Cindy last week.
"(She) spoke at length about her mother's situation. She was doing the right thing by her mother _ just accessing as much information and opinion and support as possible. She wanted me to connect her with a legal advisor who would have particular knowledge in end of life cases.
"Cindy, and 95 percent of other caregivers and people involved'' were supporting Mrs Page's decision to end her life, Ms Martin said, "with the exception of Margaret's ex-husband and the other daughter who lives in Portugal''.
Since telling her family and caregivers of her intention, Mrs Page has undergone three psychiatric assessments, all of which deemed her capable of making decisions.
Her estranged husband, Barry Page, told Radio New Zealand his wife had stopped eating because of issues with her care.
An ill-fitting wheelchair which had been causing her pain was one of a series of events which had led to her suicidal actions, Mr Page said.
Bernard Moran, spokesman for anti-euthanasia group Voice for Life, said while Mrs Page had been ruled sound of mind, she was "obviously deeply depressed'' and her carers should seek to improve her situation.
"They seem to be very legal about it. The chief executive there said the home had fulfilled all its legal obligations, but in a case like this you'd think they would go the extra mile.
"It seems to be, just reading the media reports, that she does need a proper wheelchair, she does need further assistance, further technology, entertainment, to stave off her boredom.
"These are always tragic and very hard cases. And in her situation, at the end of the day it's her (decision) to make. They can hardly force her to take food. Again it just comes back to, she wants to die, deal with the depression which is making her feel life is worthless.''
He said Canadian psychiatrist Harvey Chochinov, who visited New Zealand two years ago, had shown many patients in Mrs Page's situation became depressed and the onus was on carers to make the person feel valuable again.
St John of God chief executive Ralph La Salle said staff continued to provide a high level of care to Mrs Page.
"We are continuing to regularly offer Ms Page food and water, which she is continuing to refuse.
"One staff member has been dedicated to Ms Page's care and we are attempting to make her as comfortable as possible. We cannot force Ms Page to eat. Under the Bill of Rights Act she has the right and is asserting her right to refuse treatment, which includes the provision of food and water.''
Voluntary euthanasia legislation has twice been voted down in Parliament, most recently in 2003.
Ms Martin said Mrs Page's situation was another example of where patients would benefit from her organisation's proposed introduction of "dignity havens", providing the same care as Hospice New Zealand members, but with "an almost seamless transition to an option of voluntary euthanasia if that person is eligible, and if they pass the legal requirements under (a new) law''.
She said this would prevent such cases appearing in the public domain _ something which had greatly distressed the family of Ms Page.
"They will remain a private decision, as they should be.
"We are dealing with a natural event which sometimes can go horribly wrong if we don't step up and acknowledged that and provide legitimate assistance.
"In this case Margaret would then be able to access the medication which would allow her to fall asleep peacefully and gently with her family surrounding her and not have to endure this kind of attention at a time when she is actively dying.''
