- Statutory review of WA’s Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) laws underway
- The Act provides for an inaugural review of the legislation to be undertaken after the second anniversary of operation
- Independent panel appointed to consider the extent to which the Act has been successful in supporting eligible people to access VAD as an end-of-life choice
- Survey opens for key stakeholders to provide feedback
A statutory review of Western Australia’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2019 (Act) is underway to consider whether the Act is operating as the Parliament intended.
The Act provides for an inaugural review of the legislation to be undertaken after the second anniversary of operation.
An independent panel has been appointed to specifically look at the operation and effectiveness of the Act to examine whether it is meeting the needs of the community as an end-of-life choice, and to identify what has worked well in WA.
WA was only the second Australian jurisdiction to introduce Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) legislation, and since that time all other remaining states have enacted VAD legislation, with NSW still to commence operation.
The State Government’s introduction of the VAD laws was strongly supported by the community during the comprehensive consultation carried out in the development of the legislation, and its passage through Parliament.
The Act has been designed to provide terminally ill Western Australians with a respectful, compassionate choice at the end of their lives.
Key stakeholders broadly include individuals accessing VAD, family members, carers, medical practitioners, nurse practitioners, as well as others who have supported the process and key interest groups will be invited to provide feedback to the independent panel to inform this review.
More information on the review and the survey can be accessed here: https://consultation.health.wa.gov.au/ced-clr-vad/vad-act-review
As stated by Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
“The purpose of the review is not to look at changing the scope of the VAD Act, the objectives of this first review are to consider whether the Act is operating as the Parliament intended.
“An independent panel has been appointed to look at the operation and effectiveness of voluntary assisted dying to ensure it is meeting the needs of the community as an end-of-life choice.
“The VAD panel is looking forward to gaining insights from those stakeholders who have had experience of the VAD process since operation of the Act commenced.”
