Vic euthanasia dispensing

THE pharmacy service at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne will be the only point of access for dispensing lethal “voluntary assisted dying” medications in Victoria, with authorities confirming the scheme is expected to be implemented by June 2019.

Regulatory details were released last weekend by Vic Health Minister, Martin Foley, who said “having a single point of access for voluntary assisted dying is just one of the ways we’re making sure the model is the safest and most conservative in the world”.

The scheme can only be accessed by adults with decision-making capacity who are suffering an “incurable, advanced condition” which is likely to cause death within six months (or 12 months for people with neurodegenerative diseases).

Guidelines require patients to make three clear requests to their regular health practitioners for the voluntary assisted dying, and also undertake two independent medical assessments.

For people too sick to travel, the pharmacy service will deliver the medication and provide information on administration, as well as collect any unused drugs.

The Alfred pharmacy department will report to the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board, which will oversee the operation of the legislation and ensure high safety standards are met, Foley said.

“We’ve made voluntary assisted dying legal because a person’s quality of death is part of their quality of life,” he added, saying all of the guidelines are now in place to ensure that people with as terminal illness who wish to end their lives with dignity can do so.