Department of Health

Voluntary assisted dying means a person in the late stages of advanced disease can take a medication prescribed by a doctor that will bring about their death at a time they choose. Only people who meet the requirements and follow the steps set out in the law can access voluntary assisted dying.

Health practitioners should consider their level of involvement in voluntary assisted dying. Health practitioners involved in the provision of end of life care may receive requests for information from patients about voluntary assisted dying. Health practitioners should be prepared to respond to these requests in some way.

For health practitioners providing access to voluntary assisted dying or caring for patients who may be considering access to voluntary assisted dying, the Guidance for health practitioners provides comprehensive guidance about voluntary assisted dying.

Medical practitioners who may be interested in supporting patients to access voluntary assisted dying should consider completing the voluntary assisted dying training. A medical practitioner must complete this training before conducting an eligibility assessment for voluntary assisted dying.

There is also guidance available for health services to assist them in implementing voluntary assisted dying.

Health practitioner participation in voluntary assisted dying

A health practitioner may choose whether or not they participate in voluntary assisted dying.

  • This decision may be made based on whether they have appropriate skills and training, whether they are available to perform the duties of the role, or if they have a conscientious objection to participating.
  • A health practitioner may also choose what level of involvement they have with voluntary assisted dying. For example, they may be comfortable providing a patient with general information, but may choose to take no further part.
  • Health services may also determine whether or not they want to participate in voluntary assisted dying. This decision will depend on whether they have staff with appropriate skills and expertise, whether they have the capacity to provide the service, and whether participation aligns with the values of the health service.
  • Health practitioners should work with their health service to determine their level of involvement in voluntary assisted dying and how patients can be supported.

What happens if a health practitioner conscientiously objects to voluntary assisted dying?

  • If a health practitioner conscientiously objects to voluntary assisted dying they are under no obligation to participate.
  • The health practitioner is under no obligation to refer the patient to someone who will assist them, but should not inhibit a person's access to treatment. The health practitioner should inform the patient as soon as practicable that they will not assist them.

What roles do health practitioners perform in voluntary assisted dying?

  • Voluntary assisted dying will be provided by doctors who hold a fellowship with a specialist medical college or who are a vocationally registered general practitioner and who have undertaken specific training.
  • Through the Voluntary Assisted Dying Statewide Pharmacy Service limited number of pharmacists will be responsible for dispensing the voluntary assisted dying medications and for disposing of any unused medications.
  • Other health practitioners will not have responsibility for providing voluntary assisted dying, but they may provide care to patients who have requested voluntary assisted dying or who are considering requesting access to voluntary assisted dying. Health practitioners will continue to provide care to these patients, in the same manner as patients receiving any other type of treatment.
  • Other health practitioners may also get asked about voluntary assisted dying. Only a doctor may receive a formal request for voluntary assisted dying. Other health practitioners will be provided with additional information and support to manage questions about voluntary assisted dying.

How will a patient access voluntary assisted dying?

  • Voluntary assisted dying will not be legal until 19 June 2019.
  • To access voluntary assisted dying a patient will need to make a request to a doctor, who may choose whether or not to accept their request.
  • A health practitioner will not be allowed to raise voluntary assisted dying with their patients. A patient must raise voluntary assisted dying themselves. If a patient does so, the health practitioner may provide them with information.

Which doctors can participate in voluntary assisted dying?

  • To participate in voluntary assisted dying a doctor must hold a fellowship with a specialist medical college or be a vocationally registered general practitioner.
  • Prior to conducting an assessment to determine whether or not a patient is eligible for voluntary assisted dying, the doctor must complete specific voluntary assisted dying training. The training is currently being developed and will be available prior to the commencement of the Act on 19 June 2019.
  • A doctor may receive a request from a patient and then choose to undertake the training because they want to assist their patient.

What should doctors who are interested in participating do now?

  • If a doctor is interested in participating they should discuss this with their health service and their colleagues.
  • The doctor should also consider the process and whether they have appropriate skills and expertise.
  • Doctors may also consider undertaking the voluntary assisted dying training. The training can be completed online and should take approximately 6 hours.
  • Doctors should register for an account with the Voluntary Assisted Dying PortalExternal Link .

What should other health practitioners who are interested in providing support to patients accessing voluntary assisted dying do now?

  • If a health practitioner is interested in supporting patients who are accessing voluntary assisted dying they should discuss this with their health service and their colleagues.
  • It is important that health services have systems and processes in place to manage requests for voluntary assisted dying. Even if the health service will not be providing voluntary assisted dying, patients may still make requests and health services should consider how they will manage this situation.

Where do I find the forms required under the Act?

All forms required under the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 can be accessed, completed and submitted through the Voluntary Assisted Dying PortalExternal Link .

Where can I find more information about voluntary assisted dying?

  • The implementation of voluntary assisted dying is being supported by an Implementation Taskforce. The Taskforce and the Department of Health and Human Services are developing a range of materials to support health practitioners with the implementation of the Act.
  • The Implementation Taskforce will also work with health services and existing professional organisations to provide health practitioners with information and support.
  • More information can be found elsewhere in the voluntary assisted dying section of health.vic.

Training video: Initial Discussion – Voluntary Assisted Dying

This video was developed as part of the voluntary assisted dying training for medical practitioners. It provides an example of a conversation a health practitioner may have with a patient about their end of life options if the patient initiates a discussion about voluntary assisted dying.

    • Transcript

      Martha: So, what are my options?

      Doctor: What do you mean by that, Martha?

      Martha: Well, I've been dealing with this for so long and I'm so tired of doctors, hospitals, treatments. I just want to go home and die.

      Doctor: Have things changed?

      Martha: Well, it's basically all over for me, so isn't there some way that we can speed this up? I couldn't handle a slow decline and maybe choking to death. I don't see the point in a couple of extra months just slowly dying.

      Doctor: What are your main concerns?

      Martha: I guess it's just all getting too much. I mean, I can't do the things I enjoy anymore. And I have to depend on other people to do things that I used to be able to do so easily, all by myself.

      Doctor: Hmm.

      Martha: I can't eat properly, I can't remember the last time I had steak. I don't know, it's just... I feel like I'm just sitting around, waiting to die. And I can't remember the last time I had a good night's sleep.

      Doctor: There are certainly things we can do to help with your sleeping, Martha. There's medication we can give and relaxation exercises, a whole range of things. And there's also things we can do to help with your diet. So, if you're happy, I'll refer you off to the dietitian, who can give you some suggestions about that.

      Martha: Well, that sounds good, but right now I just would like to know my options in terms of you helping me to die. I read that there are laws regarding this.

      Doctor: Yes, Martha, the law has changed. If you want to access voluntary assisted dying, you need to meet certain criteria. So, you have to have a terminal illness, like you do have, but you have to make a formal verbal request to your treating doctor. So, I know you're seeing Gary after you've seen me, so if you want to ask him that question, you can. There's quite a process that you need to go through to decide if you're eligible. But I can give you some information on that if you'd like. And once you've been through that process, I will continue to support you, whether you go ahead or you don't. On top of that, I'll talk to the rest of the team about getting some extra supports in for you and about maybe getting you some counselling support as well. How would that be?

      Martha: OK, that'd be good.

    Description

    This video provides an example of a conversation a health practitioner may have with a patient about their end of life options if the patient initiates a discussion about voluntary assisted dying and would like information about what is involved.

    Reviewed 17 June 2022

    Health.vic

    Contact details

    To subscribe to the Voluntary Assisted Dying newsletter, email the End of Life Care Unit.

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