- FROM THE PRESIDENT - Hilde Nilsson
- 2025 REVIEW OF END-OF-LIFE CHOICES (VOLUNTARY ASSISTED DYING) ACT 2021 - Robyn Maggs
- BEQUEST TO DWDT - Helen Brookfield
- KINGBOROUGH END OF LIFE EXPO 2024 - Sue Hoyle
- WHAT CONNECTION IS THERE BETWEEN LAST CAB TO DARWIN, A NEW MEMBER, A FOUNDING MEMBER AND OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT? - Shirley Haas
- VAD AT HOME AND ABROAD
- DEMENTIA
- ADVANCE CARE DIRECTIVE WORKSHOP - KINGBOROUGH COMMUNITY HUB
- IMPORTANT LINKS
- AND MORE INFORMATION
- PLEASE CONTACT US
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FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Members
Welcome to our May newsletter. As indicated in our short newsletter in February, this one is more comprehensive, and I hope you will find it useful and thought provoking.
We are holding our 2024 Annual General Meeting a little earlier than in past years. It will be held in the Nell Pascoe Room, Criterion House, at the Mathers Centre in Bathurst Street at 2pm on Friday June 28, and you are cordially invited to attend. Our guest speaker will be Dr Keith McArthur, VAD Clinical Lead, Tasmanian Health Service. He will give an interesting and informative talk about how VAD is working in our state. Now is also a good time to think about whether you would like to join our Committee. We are particularly (but not exclusively) keen to grow our younger Committee base to help take DWDT into the future.
Our participation in the Kingborough End of Life Expo was very successful with many people engaging in conversation and picking up fliers etc. (See below)
The Review of our End-of-Life Choices (Voluntary Assisted Dying) Act 2021 is coming up towards the end of next year. This is not just an operational review, but also a review of our legislation. We therefore have an opportunity to make important improvements to the Act, and we are starting to work on this. (See below)
Following our recent state election we now have a number of new members in our Parliament, whose attitude to VAD we do not know. We plan to contact these new members, once Parliament has resumed and they have had time to settle in. It is vitally important that they are well informed about VAD prior to the commencement of the Review, because opponents of VAD will, no doubt, come out in force once the Review starts.
We have a critical shortage of doctors working in the VAD space who will give VAD care to “all comers”, with one having retired at the end of last year and another having gone interstate for an unspecified period. There are a number of doctors who are trained but will only support their own patients. It would be helpful if you could encourage your GP, and any other doctor you may know, to undertake the VAD training.
I look forward to seeing many of you at the AGM!
Hilde Nilsson
President DWDTas
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2025 REVIEW OF END-OF-LIFE CHOICES (VOLUNTARY ASSISTED DYING) ACT 2021 - Robyn Maggs
And now it begins. Tasmania will follow in the footsteps of Victoria, Western Australia and other states to consider the possibility of improvements in our Australian voluntary assisted dying Acts. It was a thirty-year journey to our End-of-Life Choices (Voluntary Assisted Dying) Act 2021. The first opportunity for amendments will come with our legislated Review commencing in October 2025.
Victoria and WA Reviews are restricted to consideration of the operation of their current legislation, with “no consideration of widening the eligibility criteria”. In spite of this their submissions advocate for changes in their legislation relating to issues such as institutional conscientious objection, time issues in progressing the voluntary assisted dying process, access for dementia, prognosis (time-to-death), and the exclusion of voluntary assisted dying from advance care directives.
Unlike those states, Tasmania's legislation has the potential for changes to result from our Review. Our voluntary assisted dying legislation specifies that the Review is to include “the potential scope of this Act”. It reads:
A review conducted under subsection (3) is to include a review of matters, related to the operation of this Act, the scope of this Act, and the potential scope of this Act, that are prescribed.
When Mike Gaffney first presented his Bill to the Legislative Council, it had no 6/12 months prognostic requirement. It also requested a committee inquiry into international Under 18 voluntary assisted dying legislation, to report back to Parliament within three years. Both were rejected.
So now we begin the important journey of reading, thinking, discussing, and consulting with medical professionals and politicians as we decide on our goals for possible amendments.
Towards the end of next year, the Health Minister will nominate people to the Governor for the Review panel. The Governor's appointed Panel will accept submissions, complete their Review within 12 months, and give the Minister their report, which will then be tabled in each House of Parliament within 5 sitting days of receiving the Panel’s report.
Click here for the link to the End-of-Life Choices (Voluntary Assisted Dying) Act 2021 (see section 145 Review of Act)
BUT WHAT HAPPENS THEN???
I asked the person who would know best, Mike Gaffney MLC:
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Is it the Panel that will suggest amendments? (eg over not needing residential requirements now that all States have voluntary assisted dying.)
Panels are not drafters; they usually suggest recommendations / findings.
Or do MPs develop possible amendments based on information in the Panel's report?
MPs are able to suggest amendments if the Government decides it needs to adopt (or adapt) some of the recommendations.
Then who does what?
It is the responsibility of the Government of the day to decide which recommendations it will propose as amendments (if any).
Does one MP have carriage of the amendments?
Usually the Minister responsible for this Act is the Minister for Health
Given that the report will be tabled in both Houses, will that be in the Upper or Lower House?
The Lower House.
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When our Committee has worked through our own considerations, we will be reaching out to DWDTas Members for your input.
Robyn Maggs
Vice-President DWDTas
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BEQUEST TO DWDT - HELEN BROOKFIELD
Dying with Dignity Tasmania Inc acknowledges the generous donation of $5000 by our late member, Jaquie Lewers. Ms Lewers was a member for many years and donated this gift to help ensure that our organisation can be around for the future and be able to protect and hopefully enhance our VAD law here in Tasmania.
We thank you Jaquie.
Helen Brookfield
Treasurer DWDTas
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KINGBOROUGH END OF LIFE EXPO 2024 - Sue Hoyle
On Tuesday 26 March, DWD Tas (Inc) took part in the Kingborough End Of Life Expo 2024, as part of National Advance Care Planning Week. This was a free event to raise awareness of end of life services including information on guardianships, advance care directives, funeral providers, doulas, grief and bereavement support.
Our stall had a steady stream of visitors, all of whom were pleasingly positive in their interactions with us and interested in how VAD can be accessed in Tasmania. Some even introduced themselves as members of DWD Tas, so that was a bonus. Hilde's comprehensive knowledge of Tasmanian VAD Legislation was much appreciated.
Sue Hoyle
DWDTas Committee Member
Shirley, Hilde and Sue
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WHAT CONNECTION IS THERE BETWEEN LAST CAB TO DARWIN, A NEW MEMBER, A FOUNDING MEMBER AND OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT?
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Recently DWDT was one of the sponsors of the Hobart Repertory Theatre Society’s production of Last Cab to Darwin at the Playhouse. The play, based on a true story, followed the journey of Max, who, faced with terminal stomach cancer, drove 3000km from Broken Hill to Darwin to take advantage of the new ‘euthanasia’ laws. In the end, Max decided to go back home to spend his last days with his great friend Polly. This was his choice. But he did have a choice. A few of us were able to attend the play and found it very moving and extremely professionally presented.
New DWDT member Pip Tyrrell is a long-term Rep Society volunteer and Life Member, having covered every conceivable theatrical role - performing, backstage, production, bar, ushering and Committee Membership. During the Last Cab to Darwin season Pip saw our brochures in the Playhouse foyer and took the opportunity to read up and then join. She had been thinking about it for many years, having observed the traumatic end-of-life experiences of three loved ones.
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And it turns out that Pip’s connection with DWD goes back a lot further to when her young son used to help an ’old lady’, Sheila Howe, a DWD Committee member, with her embryonic computer skills. Sheila was a founding member of DWDT (called VEST until 2006), held positions as Secretary and President, and edited the Newsletter for about ten years! She ‘retired’ in 2007 aged 83, claiming that she was slow, but still feisty, and that DWDT would be well rid of her. Never! Sheila and her family have been continuously represented on the DWDT Committee until this day. Her granddaughter Helen (a technology guru, thank goodness) is currently our youngest member.
And to complete the story, Sheila recruited our current President, Hilde, at least 20 years ago, in the days when VEST had a regular stall at the Salamanca Market.
Pip in My Fair Lady
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VAD AT HOME AND ABROAD
AT HOME
Every state in Australia now has VAD legislation in place. In June 2019, Victoria became the first state to have an operational Act, with a five-year Review now underway. WA (July 2021) also has a Review in train. The third state was Tasmania in October 2022, with our thoughts already focussed on our three-year Review in late 2025. NSW was the last state, with their Act coming into effect in November 2023.
The territories have been sorely disadvantaged by the Commonwealth Euthanasia Laws Act 1997 which ultimately overrode the Northern Territory's world first Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995 and prevented the territories from legalising 'euthanasia' again. This restrictive Act was overturned in 2022, thus allowing both the NT and the ACT to pursue VAD. It is expected that the ACT will have its legislation in place by the end of 2024; however the NT has been slow to act and will likely delay the process until after their next election.
AND ABROAD
Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and the Netherlands, Canada, Portugal, Spain and NZ all have active VAD laws. VAD is currently legal in ten USA states plus the District of Columbia, and another 16 states are considering a bill. An Irish parliament committee inquiry has heard from witnesses, both for and against a bill, including VAD experts from Australia. Progress is being made in Iceland, New Jersey, Isle of Man, Scotland and France. While in UK 74% of the population are in favour of VAD but the parliament is lagging behind!
(Overseas information courtesy Ian Wood, Christians Supporting Choice for Voluntary Assisted Dying)
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DEMENTIA
Many of us have witnessed a loved one die with Dementia and would not want to go down that path ourselves. Accessing VAD is not possible because mental capacity is required through the whole process of being assessed for VAD. One of the few other options available is to refuse administration of food and fluid using an Advanced Care Directive. This is an issue which can hopefully be addressed in the future.
Dr Rodney Syme discusses this situation in his book A Completed Life which is available online from https://www.dwdv.org.au/store/
(Dementia information courtesy Ian Wood, Christians Supporting Choice for Voluntary Assisted Dying)
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DWDT Committee Members strongly recommend A Completed Life, and Treasurer Helen (we have three Helens!) suggests that Appendix A of the book is essential reading.
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ADVANCE CARE DIRECTIVE WORKSHOP - KINGBOROUGH COMMUNITY HUB
Click here for more information or to purchase tickets
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IMPORTANT LINKS
ACCESSING VAD IN TASMANIA - VAD Flowchart Link
This flowchart is a simplified reference for DWDTas Members to understand the steps required to access the Tasmanian End of Life Choices (Voluntary Assisted Dying) Act 2021.
TASMANIAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH NAVIGATION SERVICE - Navigation Service for Voluntary Assisted Dying | Tasmanian Department of Health
This service provides a central point of contact for information and support about voluntary assisted dying, and is available to patients, families and carers, health practitioners and healthcare workers. The VAD Navigator Hotline is 1800 568 956 (Mon-Fri 9-5)
DWD VICTORIA'S GRIEFLINE - Griefline Get Help Link
DWDV has agreed to provide this service to people at different stages of the VAD journey
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AND FOR MORE GENERAL INFORMATION
SBS PODCASTS GRAVE MATTERS - Grave Matters | SBS Audio
Grave Matters is a podcast about grief, death care and the people helping us better understand what happens at the end of the road.
ABC RN BACKGROUND BRIEFING - ABC Listen Link
'A mother's message and the hospital that didn't want to hear it' with the ABC listen app
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PLEASE CONTACT US
Please contact us via our phone number (0409 992 665) or email dwdtas@outlook.com
- for more information
- to provide feedback on our Newsletter
- with suggestions for Newsletter content
- or with any other relevant matter.
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