Victoria accepts voluntary assisted dying recommendations

The Victorian Government has accepted all recommendations from the independent review into Australia’s first voluntary assisted dying (VAD) laws. The VAD laws are intended to give Victorians with a life-limiting illness, dignified and compassionate choices, a review finding strong community support for VAD, with the service often accessed at the same time as palliative care. The review also found it to be operating safely, with no reports of ineligible people gaining access to VAD.

Areas identified for improvement included further guidance for health practitioners on how to deal with patients that want to access VAD, with the review also finding that the Victorian Government needs to continue to advocate to the Commonwealth Government for greater support to ensure VAD remains accessible, viable and sustainable into the future.

Since 2019, 1282 Victorians have accessed VAD services as a safe and dignified end-of-life choice, with this review (that took place between June 2023 and June 2024) covering the operation of the first four years of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017. Following the review, feedback from the community and the recommendations made by the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board, the Victorian Government will be rewriting legislation to improve access to VAD, bringing it in line with other jurisdictions.

“While our Australian-first voluntary assisted dying laws are giving Victorians the dignity of making their own decisions about the timing and manner of their death — we know we need to update them to ensure they remain fair,” Victorian Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas said. “Reforming our VAD laws to bring them in line with other states is critical to maintaining a service that is accessible to all Victorians, no matter where they live.”

Subject to consultation, the Victorian Government will legislate to allow health practitioners to initiate discussions about VAD — acknowledging sentiments from stakeholders that it stops doctors from having important conversations with patients about end-of-life care and limits informed decision-making. Health practitioners who conscientiously object to VAD may also be required to provide minimum information to patients, with the review stating that such obstruction was inconsistent with person-centred care.

Proposed changes for Victorians with neurodegenerative conditions — many of whom are house or bed-bound at the time of application — include removing the requirement for a third assessment, to make the process easier and less complicated, as well as reducing demand on doctors who make these assessments.

The full review is available to read here, via Victoria’s Department of Health website.

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