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  4. Is voluntary assisted dying the same as euthanasia?
What is voluntary assisted dying? Is voluntary assisted dying the same as euthanasia? Is voluntary assisted dying legal in Australia? I live in the NT. Can I access voluntary assisted dying? Who can use voluntary assisted dying in Australia? How can I find out more about voluntary assisted dying laws in my state? I am terminally ill and want to find out more about voluntary assisted dying. Who can I contact? I have dementia. Can I apply for VAD? I'm a health professional. How can I learn more about voluntary assisted dying in my state? What other end-of-life options are available? What is the assessment process for voluntary assisted dying? How long does the voluntary assisted dying application take? How much does voluntary assisted dying cost? Does voluntary assisted dying affect insurance payouts? Can I die at home with voluntary assisted dying? Can I travel between states to use voluntary assisted dying somewhere else? Is voluntary assisted dying safe? Can I talk about voluntary assisted dying with my doctor? Can someone become an organ donor after voluntary assisted dying? How can I talk about voluntary assisted dying with my family? Is voluntary assisted dying the same as suicide? What does the Australian community think about voluntary assisted dying? How many people use voluntary assisted dying laws in Australia?

Is voluntary assisted dying the same as euthanasia?

Answer

Euthanasia means a doctor administers a life-ending substance to a dying person – rather than the person taking it themselves. The word euthanasia carries negative historical connotations and is often associated with something that is done to a person without their consent.

In Australia, the term ‘voluntary assisted dying’ is preferred because it centres the dying person’s choice i.e. VAD is not something that is done to you, but something you choose.

VAD is a legal option for a person with a terminal illness, where the person has a choice between self-administration and practitioner administration. The choice is determined by the needs of the person. 

Agency resides with the person with the terminal illness to make an end-of-life choice. 

Euthanasia is the deliberate ending of a life, and is often not requested. Euthanasia has always been, and remains, illegal in Australia and New Zealand.