Implementing voluntary assisted dying in a major public health service

Booth, Sarah; Eleftheriou, Paul; Moody, Claire

doi:10.5694/mja2.50982

Topics

Implementing voluntary assisted dying legislation demands respectful communication and collaboration between health professionals and community

The Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 (Vic) (VAD Act) was passed by the Victorian Parliament in November 2017 and came into effect on 19 June 2019.1 The VAD Act is the only legislation of its kind implemented in Australia, but there are several other international jurisdictions where comparable legislations apply.2,3,4

Western Health, Melbourne, VIC

Correspondence: sarah.booth@wh.org.au

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

1. Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 (Vic). https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/voluntary-assisted-dying-act-2017/004 (viewed July 2019)
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8. Department of Health and Human Services. Voluntary assisted dying: guidance for health practitioners. Melbourne: Victoria State Government, 2019. https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/about/publications/policiesandguidelines/voluntary-assisted-dying-guidance-for-health-practitioners (viewed Sept 2020).
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10. Department of Health and Human Services. Voluntary assisted dying model of care pathways. Melbourne: Victoria State Government, 2019. https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/Api/downloadmedia/%7B38D6AD67-02C1-4A97-A240-9D726C5D9D6A%7D (viewed Sept 2019).

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