The independent Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board has released its third report, reissuing a call for reforms of the Commonwealth law just over a year after Victoria’s voluntary assisted dying laws were introduced.
Minister for Health, Jenny Mikakos said the latest report showed that of the 231 permits issued, 124 Victorians suffering with a terminal illness had chosen to access the laws in the past 12 months.
“Our voluntary assisted dying laws are giving Victorians suffering with a terminal illness greater choice over the timing and manner of their death,” Ms Mikakos said.
“The report also shows the widespread need for the legislation,” she said, “(with) 38 per cent of applications from people living in regional Victoria.”
“Similarly, applications were received from Victorians across a spectrum of ages, from 32 to 100, with an average age of 71 years.”
Ms Mikakos said that of those who’d died, 78 per cent had a cancer diagnosis, 15 per cent had a neurodegenerative disease and seven per cent had other untreatable diseases including pulmonary fibrosis, cardiomyopathy or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
“And reflecting the rapid decline of people experiencing many of these illnesses, half of all applicants proceeded from their first to last request within 19 days,” she said.
“Most permits were then issued within two days.”
The Minister said the number of medical practitioners trained and registered to support voluntary assisted dying increased by 30 per cent from the first six months, with 37 per cent located outside metropolitan Melbourne.
Ms Mikakos said the independent Board also used the review to repeat its calls to reform Commonwealth laws that prevented telehealth being used to discuss voluntary assisted dying.
“This has proven to be a barrier for accessing voluntary assisted dying, particularly for regional patients or those too ill to attend an appointment in person,” she said.
