Following the 2017 announcement that Voluntary Assisted Dying will be available in Victoria, the state’s health body has announced the service will be available from June 19th.
This week, Vic Health have provided extensive details on the service, including who can be eligible, how the service will be provided and by whom.
From Wednesday, June 19th, Voluntary Assisted Dying will be available to Victorians who are at the end of their life, and suffering extensively. Despite the service now being legal, accessing the scheme will require patients meet strict criteria with 68 different safeguards, making the act one of the most protective of its kind in the world.
The criteria states that patients must be 18 years or older, be living in Victoria for at least 12 months, and be an Australian citizen.
To successfully receive the service, patients must also suffer from an advanced disease, with a life expectancy of six months, or within 12 months for neurodegenerative diseases. They must also request access via the formal request process.
As a further safeguard, Vic Health has established a Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board which will access each case.
In the initial roll out, access will be fairly limited with three pharmacists at The Alfred Hospital tasked with mixing the medication for patients. The pharmacists will personally deliver the lethal cocktail in person to the approved patient in a locked box.
Speaking on the delivery, Victoria’s Health Minister Jenny stated, “No matter where they are in Victoria, they will dispense the medication to them. If there is any medication remaining, they will collect that and take it back.”
To assist with the process, Vic Health has also recruited two voluntary assisted dying care “navigators” who will operate out of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. A further 89 doctors from across the state will also undergo training before being able to prescribe the service.
The government plans on having at least medical practitioner in each region of the state qualified to provide Voluntary Assisted Dying.
Once patients have administered the medicine, typically a 100mm liquid, their painless and peaceful death will be recorded as Voluntary Assisted Dying.
Anyone who requires further information in accessing the new scheme can speak with the “navigators” via a government hotline.
