NEW laws passed in state Parliament earlier this week will mean Victoria’s voluntary assisted dying (VAD) regulations will change, bringing them in line with other states.<\/p>\n
Amendments to the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 will take effect within 18 months, allowing for more Victorians to get access to VAD.<\/p>\n
The changes will mean there are less barriers, improved clarity for practitioners, and strengthened safety measures for people wanting to use the service.<\/p>\n
“Our new laws will now make it fairer and more compassionate for Victorians who are terminally ill and suffering in pain to live out their last days with dignity,” Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas said.<\/p>\n
Updates in the legislation will include:<\/strong><\/p>\n Removing the “gag clause” so doctors and some registered health practitioners can raise VAD with patients<\/p>\n Requiring doctors and nurse practitioners who conscientiously object to provide minimum information<\/p>\n Extending the prognosis requirement from six months to 12 months<\/p>\n Removing a third prognosis for neurodegenerative diseases if their life expectancy is between six and 12 months, and Introducing a new administering practitioner role.<\/p>\n “These changers were not possible without the advocates, clinicians and families, who through their own stories, told us once nation-leading laws needed updating to give terminally ill Victorians more choices,” Ms Thomas said.<\/p>\n “Doctors and nurse practitioners can now have open, honest conversations to ensure their terminally ill patients are making safe and informed end-of-life decisions.”<\/p>\n Go Gentle Australia, who works to promote and enable choice at the end of life, have welcomed the new laws.<\/p>\n “These are balanced, practical updates that harmonise Victoria’s legislation with other jurisdictions without changing its guiding principles,” Go Gentle chief executive officer Linda Swan said.<\/p>\n “They clear away barriers that have stood in the way of people seeking a legal end-of-life option.<\/p>\n “The reforms keep the framework secure and equitable, while upholding its central purpose of supporting dignified and compassionate care.”<\/p>\n The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) also backed reforms of VAD laws.<\/p>\n “Every patient, no matter their postcode, deserves to die with dignity and not have to experience unnecessary suffering in their last weeks and months,” RACGP Victoria chair Dr Anita Mu\u00f1oz said.<\/p>\n “Voluntary assisted dying is an emotive and, at times, divisive issue, and I’m mindful that there are a range of different views within general practice and the larger community.<\/p>\n “Ultimately, the College does support patient-centred decisions on end-of-life care, and we respect that this may include palliative care and requests for voluntary assisted dying.”<\/p>\n An independent review into VAD in Victoria was completed and used to inform the amendments.<\/p>\n The review found that while the service was working safely, there was challenges in gaining access to it.<\/p>\n Victoria first legalised VAD in 2017 and was the first state to do so.<\/p>\n Since then, more than 1,600 terminally ill Victorians have been able to make their own decisions about their death.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" NEW laws passed in state Parliament earlier this week will mean Victoria’s voluntary assisted dying (VAD) regulations will change, bringing them in line with other states. Amendments to the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 will take effect within 18 months, allowing for more Victorians to get access to VAD. The changes will mean there are […]<\/p>\n