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
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- 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)
- 2. Loggers ET, Starks H, Shannon-Dudley M, et al. Implementing a Death with Dignity program at a comprehensive cancer center. N Engl J Med 2013; 368: 1417–1424.
- 3. Johnston C, Cameron J. Discussing voluntary assisted dying. J Law Med. 2018; 26: 454–463.
- 4. Department of Health and Human Services. Ministerial Advisory Panel on Voluntary Assisted Dying: final report. Melbourne: Victoria State Government, 2017. https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/about/publications/researchandreports/ministerial-advisory-panel-on-voluntary-assisted-dying-final-report (viewed July 2019).
- 5. White B, Willmott L, Close E. Victoria’s voluntary assisted dying law: clinical implementation as the next challenge. Med J Aust 2019; 210: 207–209. https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2019/210/5/victorias-voluntary-assisted-dying-law-clinical-implementation-next-challenge
- 6. Winkler E. The ethics of policy writing: how should hospitals deal with moral disagreement about controversial medical practices? J Med Ethics 2005; 31: 559–566.
- 7. Department of Health and Human Services. Health services information [website]. Melbourne: Victoria State Government. https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/hospitals-and-health-services/patient-care/end-of-life-care/voluntary-assisted-dying/health-services-information (viewed July 2019).
- 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).
- 9. Waran E, William L. Navigating the complexities of voluntary assisted dying in palliative care. Med J Aust 2020; 213: 204–206. https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2020/213/5/navigating-complexities-voluntary-assisted-dying-palliative-care
- 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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