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  4. Is voluntary assisted dying the same as suicide?
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 suicide?

Answer

People seeking voluntary assisted dying are not suicidal; they don’t want to die but nevertheless are dying of a terminal illness and want to control how and when it happens including how much they need to suffer at the end.

Australian laws expressly state that voluntary assisted dying is not suicide.

If you are affected by the issue of suicide or know someone experiencing suicidal ideation, visit Conversations Matter or Beyond Blue

If you (or someone you know) requires immediate assistance, contact one of the following 24/7 crisis support services: Lifeline (13 11 14), Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467), MensLine (1300 78 99 78), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) or Headspace (1800 650 890).