by Jane Morris

Guilt can strike in all shapes and forms and can be a very destructive emotion.

Many of you may have heard of ‘survivor guilt’. An example of this that comes to mind is that which occurs in the aftermath of bushfires. We hear reports of areas where there are scenes of massive destruction yet, inexplicably, one house will survive the carnage, totally unscathed. The initial feelings of luck and fortune experienced by the ‘survivors’ often rapidly dissolve into feelings of guilt as they acknowledge the enormity of the loss experienced by those around them.

Unfortunately, I have recently become aware of a very different type of guilt, “VAD eligibility guilt”. The eligibility criteria for the Victorian Voluntary Assisted Dying process are stringent, so stringent that they are considered, by many, as excessive. To ensure the successful passage of Victoria’s VAD legislation, these restrictive criteria had to be agreed to. It has been heartbreaking to learn that some people experience a sense of guilt that arises from the fact that they have been considered eligible for VAD, whilst others who suffer similar illnesses and comparable suffering, are considered ineligible. Sue suffers from a terminal illness and has been considered eligible for VAD. She is now in possession of the VAD medication and talks openly about her impending death.