Australian Law on Voluntary Assisted Dying: A National Challenge
Voluntary assisted dying is lawful in all Australian states, allowing terminally ill adults with decision-making capacity to choose to receive help to die. Victoria’s law was the first, coming into effect in 2019, while New South Wales was the last state, with its voluntary assisted dying law beginning in late 2023.
A Study in Queensland
A study conducted in Queensland, where voluntary assisted dying became legal on January 1, 2023, revealed that only one-third of participants correctly identified it as legal. Of the 67% who didn’t know, 41% thought it was illegal and 26% said they didn’t know.
Those who knew voluntary assisted dying was legal had generally found out through the media, professional experience, or personal experience.
Legal and Cultural Barriers
One major barrier is that health practitioners are often unable to freely discuss voluntary assisted dying with their patients. For example, in Queensland, only doctors and nurse practitioners can raise the topic, and only if they also discuss available treatment and palliative care options and their likely outcomes.
Conscientious objection is another significant barrier. Some doctors are opposed to voluntary assisted dying and may choose not to tell their patients about it.
A National Challenge
Raising community awareness of voluntary assisted dying is a challenge across the country. Voluntary assisted dying oversight boards from five states have discussed this issue in their most recent annual reports.
In addition, Western Australia recently reviewed its voluntary assisted dying laws, identifying lack of community knowledge as a problem. The review called for a strategy to fix this.
What Can We Do About This?
We need community awareness initiatives to increase knowledge that voluntary assisted dying is legal and ensure people know where to find information about this option. Information about voluntary assisted dying is already available from all state government health departments, but more action is needed to ensure it reaches more people.
Respondents in our survey suggested using social media campaigns, advertising, and sharing information through Centrelink, health clinics, and other trusted community channels.
Conclusion
Raising community awareness about voluntary assisted dying is a challenge nationally. We need to increase knowledge that voluntary assisted dying is legal and ensure people know where to find information about this option. This will enable members of the public to know the options available to them and how to make the choices they want.
Frequently Asked Questions
* Q: Is voluntary assisted dying legal in Australia?
A: Yes, it is legal in all Australian states.
* Q: How can I access information about voluntary assisted dying?
A: You can find information on state government health departments’ websites or through health clinics and other trusted community channels.
* Q: How can health practitioners help patients know about voluntary assisted dying?
A: Health practitioners can discuss available treatment and palliative care options and their likely outcomes with patients.
* Q: How can we increase community awareness about voluntary assisted dying?
A: We need targeted information campaigns, social media initiatives, and advertisements, as well as sharing information through Centrelink, health clinics, and other trusted community channels.
