In Victoria, the Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) Review Board published their second report about the VAD law that is in force since 2019. You can read it here.
The scope of the report
This report details the activity since the commencement of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 on 19 June to 31 December 2019 and key lessons and reflections drawn from case reviews and feedback.
Main results
The Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 (the Act) has operated safely in the first six months. In the first six months of operation, Victoria’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Act has provided another choice for people who are nearing the end of their life. During this period 136 people commenced the assessment process through the Voluntary Assisted Dying Portal. Through feedback from the people who have requested voluntary assisted dying, their families, carers and medical practitioners, we have heard how voluntary assisted dying is providing another choice in end of life care.
Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) Review Board
By law, the VAD Review Board is required to report to Parliament every six months for the first two years. The next report will be tabled by August 2020 and will cover the reporting period 1 January to 30 June 2020. Their first report was about the key work undertaken by the Board to prepare for the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 coming into effect on 19 June 2019 and about the activities under the Act from 19 June to 30 June 2019.
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