Voluntary assisted dying

Voluntary Assisted Dying or VAD refers to “the legal administration of a lethal drug to a terminally ill person at the request of that person”. [1] 

In contrast, palliative care does not hasten death. Palliative care has a focus on alleviating suffering and improving quality of life for a person with a life-limiting illness.

In other countries and at other times in Australia a variety of terms have been used but VAD is the term adopted in current Australian legislation. [2] The Australian public’s support for VAD has remained high with numerous national surveys showing that since the early 1990’s at least 70% of people polled were in favour. For more on legislation and requirements surrounding VAD in Australia visit End of Life Law in Australia.

VAD is legally available in the following Australian states:

• Queensland
• South Australia
  
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia

VAD has been legislated in the following Australian States and will become available in 2023

• New South Wales (available on 28 November, 2023)

Health Professional role in VAD

As a health professional you can choose whether you are involved in providing VAD. Each state provides information on health professional and organisation obligations in relation to VAD. For those wanting to assist make sure to access information on registration and training relevant to your state and practice setting.

However, even if you do not want to participate, if asked for information about VAD you need to prepare yourself to respond appropriately. In some states health professionals with a conscientious objection to VAD may be under no obligation to provide information to patients, in others you must provide this and/or may be required to direct the person to someone who can help.

NSW

• Information for health professionals
• Information for consumers

Queensland

• Information for healthcare workers
• Practitioner registration of interest
• Information for consumers

South Australia

• Information for health professionals
• Information for consumers

Tasmania

• Information for health professionals
• Training for VAD
• Information for consumers

Victoria

• Information for health professionals
• VAD Learning Hub
• Information for consumers

Western Australia

• Information for health professionals
• VAD Training
• Information for consumers

Consumers and VAD

Some states with VAD legislation provide information for consumers. It is important that patients and their families understand that to be eligible for VAD in any state the person must be able to make decisions. You can use the links above to connect patients and their families with relevant information.