Provisions of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill
IN Saturday’s edition of TasWeekend, the cover story about the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill contained fact boxes that referred to a previous draft version of the legislation.
The finalised Bill that is now before the Legislative Council contains the following updated information regarding the proposed process, eligibility and safeguards. These are also available in the online version of the article on the Mercury website.
THE PROPOSED PROCESS
The person seeking assistance to die makes their first request to do so to their doctor (primary medical practitioner, or PMP)
Before accepting the request, the PMP must confirm the patient is eligible and acting of their own free will, and the request must be recorded The person must wait at least 48 hours after their first request being accepted before making their second request If the PMP accepts the second request, it is referred to one other independent consulting medical practitioner (CMP) for a second determination
If the request is confirmed by the CMP, the process will continue
If the second request is confirmed by the CMP, the person must wait at least 48 hours before making their final request When the PMP accepts the final request, they can have a prescription made up for a VAD substance
This substance can then be administered to the person by a health practitioner at a time of their choosing
If the person is terminal within six months or 12 months (neurological disorder) the person can apply to selfadminister
WHO WILL BE ELIGIBLE
The person has attained the age of 18 years
Must be a Tasmanian resident who has lived in the state 12 months prior to making the request
The person must have decision-making capacity The person must be acting voluntarily
The person must be suffering intolerably, in relation to a relevant medical condition that will cause death
FEATURES OF THE BILL
The person is able to, at any stage, withdraw from the VAD process
Doctors, nurses and medical staff who wish to be involved in the VAD process must voluntarily undertake the required training course and have five years’ experience
The appointed commissioner of VAD is required to provide a full report on the operation of the Act after its first six months in operation, followed by a full review after its first three years, and every five years thereafter
At every stage of the process, at any point, PMPs and CMPs are able to request extra medical history information, additional examinations and psychological advice in relation to the patient
End of life choices, including palliative care options, must have been fully explained and explored for the person
All decisions and declarations made by the VAD person must be made free of duress, coercion, threat of punishment, or promise of some kind of benefit to another person
No medical practitioner or witness can have any vested interest in the death of the person