Dying With Dignity Victoria welcomes proposed changes to Voluntary Assisted Dying Act:
- Improving access to VAD
- Increasing community awareness and grief and bereavement supports
- Supporting the VAD workforce
Dying With Dignity Victoria (DWDV) welcomes the Victorian Government’s response to the Five Year Review of the operation of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 and the proposed legislative amendments.
“The Victorian Government’s recommendations for changes to the Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) Act 2017 are great news for all Victorians and will improve access and support for people seeking VAD in Victoria,” Jane Morris, President, DWDV said.
We congratulate the Victorian Government on accepting all five recommendations of the Five Year Review report and undertaking to bring forward legislative amendments in 2025.
DWDV is particularly pleased the Government is proposing amendments that will:
- Remove the “gag clause” and allow health practitioners to initiate VAD discussions
- Extend the prognosis requirement to 12 months for all VAD applicants
- Amend the time period between first and final VAD requests
- Amend citizenship and residency requirements
- Simplify the permit process
- Require additional reviews of the operation and scope of the Act