Voluntary assisted dying report shows growth, barriers

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACCESSING VOLUNTARY ASSISTED DYING? * Since first introduced in Victoria in June 2019, more than 7200 terminally ill people in Australia and New Zealand have sought to access voluntary assisted dying * 3232 have died using a voluntary assisted dying substance WHO IS ACCESSING THIS SERVICE? * For people seeking voluntary assisted dying, between 30 and 50 per cent to start the process do not complete it (for various reasons including dying, being deemed ineligible or changing their mind) * The typical applicant was in their 70s with a terminal cancer diagnosis and were slightly more likely to be male * They were usually well-educated, were three times more likely to die at home and four-in-five were receiving palliative care * Voluntary assisted dying only made up between 0.5 per cent and 1.6 per cent in total deaths, but demand is growing and barriers still stand in the way to access WHEN DID VOLUNTARY ASSISTED DYING BECOME LEGAL? * Victoria was the first state to make voluntary assisted dying legal in Australia in 2019 * Voluntary assisted dying is legal in every state in Australia and will be soon in the ACT * The Northern Territory is the only jurisdiction yet to pass the law WHAT IMPROVEMENT COULD BE MADE? * Streamline of complex bureaucratic processes to make easier for dying people * Reform the Commonwealth Criminal Code so those living outside Australia's major cities can discuss voluntary assisted dying via telehealth * Expand the voluntary assisted dying workforce to meet growing demand * Raise voluntary assisted dying awareness * Produce clear guidance so medical professionals and organisations understand their legal and ethical obligations Source: State of VAD report Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636