If you would like some more detailed information about these issues and why we want your views, please read the Discussion Paper.

Introduction

An eligible person should have information, support and protection to help them make decisions about voluntary assisted dying. That process could include finding the right health professionals, getting information and support, and taking time to think about decisions.

To help you think about this topic and provide your views, here is a summary of the process a person must follow in other places in Australia:

1. The person asks a qualified and experienced doctor (first doctor) to help with voluntary assisted dying
2. The first doctor assesses if that the person is eligible to access voluntary assisted dying
3. The person asks a different qualified and experienced doctor (second doctor) to help with voluntary assisted dying
4. The second doctor assesses that the person is eligible to access voluntary assisted dying
5. The person makes a written request
   to the first doctor, witnessed by independent witnesses
6. The person makes a final request to the first doctor
7. The first doctor makes sure the person is still eligible for voluntary assisted dying, submits paperwork, and arranges for a pharmacist to supply a prescribed voluntary assisted dying substance
8. The person dies by taking the voluntary assisted dying substance when they choose to do so, either by taking the substance themselves or by asking a health professional to help them take the substance.

Finding a health professional who can help

We want to know your views on how health professionals should be involved in helping a person access voluntary assisted dying.

In other places in Australia, two qualified and experienced doctors help a person access voluntary assisted dying. The doctors decide if a person is eligible to access voluntary assisted dying. The doctors can also seek advice or another opinion if they are not sure if the person is eligible to access voluntary assisted dying. For more information about when a person should have access to voluntary assisted dying, see

It can sometimes be hard to find a health professional who can help with voluntary assisted dying. We want to make sure it is not difficult for a person to find the right health professional to help them to access voluntary assisted dying.

For more information, see Discussion Guide 4 Health professionals and health services.

Having the right information and support

We want to know your views on what kind of information and support a person needs to make important decisions about voluntary assisted dying. A person can get information from their health professionals and other sources.

Making sure the person freely chooses voluntary assisted dying

We want to know your views on how to make sure an eligible person freely chooses to access voluntary assisted dying and is not pressured by anyone else.

In other places in Australia, a person can only access voluntary assisted dying if they take a few days to think about it before making a final request for voluntary assisted dying. Also, a person can only access voluntary assisted dying if other people witness at least one written request. The witnesses must be someone who will not benefit personally or financially from the person’s death.

Taking the voluntary assisted dying substance to die

In other places in Australia, if an eligible person completes the process to access voluntary assisted dying, a doctor can arrange access to a voluntary assisted dying substance. A voluntary assisted dying substance is a medication prescribed by a doctor that when taken, causes a person’s death at the end of the voluntary assisted dying process.

A person can choose when to use the substance. The person can also choose to never use the substance – some people just want to have the option to end their suffering when they are ready.

We want to know your views on how we can give a person dignity and choice, but also protect them from harm. In most states in Australia, a person must use the substance themselves, but if this is not possible or not appropriate, a doctor can help them use the substance. Other states allow a person to choose whether to use the substance themselves or ask a health professional to help them use the substance.

Notifying and registering a person’s death

When a person dies in the ACT, the person’s health professional notifies Access Canberra. Access Canberra then updates the births, deaths and marriages register, and can provide a death certificate for a person.

Because death certificates are used for various legal, insurance and other purposes, sometimes a person’s family might not want the death certificate to include details of how a person died. Sometimes, Access Canberra can provide a death certificate that excludes this information. Around Australia, some states make sure that a death certificate says a person’s death was caused by their illness, and not caused by voluntary assisted dying. We want to know your views on how a person’s death should be notified and registered if they die from a voluntary assisted dying substance.

Support

If the issue of a voluntary assisted dying law raises issues for you or your family, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Griefline on 1300 845 745.

Discussion Paper - Voluntary assisted dying in the ACT

Discussion Guide 3 - Process

Discussion Guide 3 - Process (Easy English)

Discussion Guide 3 - Process (ARABIC)

Discussion Guide 3 - Process (FARSI)

Discussion Guide 3 - Process (SIMPLIFIED CHINESE)

Discussion Guide 3 - Process (SPANISH)

Discussion Guide 3 - Process (VIETNAMESE)

An Easy English version of this guide is also being developed for this page.

If you need help to access information or have your say, please call Access Canberra on 13 22 81.