In reply: We thank Harris and Cigolini for their comments1 on our article.2 We take issue with a number of assertions made, but have the word count to comment only on their point about evidence. We agree with their statement that an evidence base is needed to support legalisation of voluntary assisted dying (VAD). Indeed, we have publicly called for law reform in this area to be evidence based.3
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- 1. Harris MT, Cigolini MC. Participating doctors’ perspectives on the regulation of voluntary assisted dying in Victoria: a qualitative study [letter]. Med J Aust 2021; 216: 209.
- 2. Willmott L, White B, Sellars M, Yates P. Participating doctors’ perspectives on the regulation of voluntary assisted dying in Victoria: a qualitative study. Med J Aust 2021; 215: 125–129. https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2021/215/3/participating‐doctors‐perspectives‐regulation‐voluntary‐assisted‐dying‐victoria
- 3. White B, Willmott L. Evidence‐based law making on voluntary assisted dying. Aust Health Rev 2020; 44: 544–546.
- 4. Emanuel E, Onwuteaka‐Philipsen BD, Urwin J, Cohen J. Attitudes and practices of euthanasia and physician‐assisted suicide in the United States, Canada, and Europe. JAMA 2016; 316: 79–90.
- 5. Blanke C, LeBlanc M, Hershman D, et al. Characterizing 18 years of the Death with Dignity Act in Oregon. JAMA Oncol 2017; 3: 1403–1406.
- 6. White BP, Willmott L, Sellars M, Yates P. Prospective oversight and approval of assisted dying cases in Victoria, Australia: a qualitative study of doctors’ perspectives. BMJ Support Palliat Care 2021; bmjspcare‐2021‐002972 (online ahead of print).
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We received a small amount of funding from the Queensland University of Technology to prepare the original manuscript (to which a letter to the editor and this response relate). The funding source enabled us to employ a senior research assistant to undertake interviews.
Lindy Willmott and Ben White have received grants from the Victorian and Western Australian governments to design and provide training to practitioners involved in VAD. Ben White has also received an ARC Future Fellowship that relates to the regulation of VAD.