O Connor Margaret M, Hunt Roger W, Gardner Julian, Draper Mary, Maddocks Ian, Malowney Trish, Owler Brian K
Monash University, Nursing & Midwifery, McMahons Road, Frankston, Vic. 3122, Australia.
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Central Adelaide Palliative Care Service, 28 Woodville Road, Woodville South Australia 5011, Australia. Email.
Aust Health Rev. 2018 Dec;42(6):621-626. doi: 10.1071/AH18172.
Many countries across the world have legislated for their constituents to have control over their death. Commonalities and differences can be found in the regulations surrounding the shape and practices of voluntary assisted dying (VAD) and euthanasia, including an individual's eligibility and access, role of health professions and the reporting. In Australia there have been perennial debates across the country to attempt legislative change in assisting a terminally ill person to control the ending of their life. In 2017, Victoria became the first state to successfully legislate for VAD. In describing the Victorian process that led to the passage of legislation for VAD, this paper examines the social change process. The particular focus of the paper is on the vital role played by a multidisciplinary ministerial advisory panel to develop recommendations for the successful legislation, and is written from their perspective.
