Dr Sarah Pickstock, a West Australian palliative care specialist, has supported more than 16 patients through the VAD process. She says its intimacy and impact shouldn’t be underestimated.

Melbourne oncologist Dr Phillip Parente, a one-time conscientious objector, says he now feels comfortable with offering patients assistance to die. 'I believe it's the right thing to do'.

Victorian physician James Hurley says working as a VAD doctor has enabled him to give back to the community in a way he did not anticipate

Fiona Jane manages a community hospice in Western Australia’s Great Southern region. She explains how the choice of voluntary assisted dying is bringing comfort to the people in her care.

Phil Browne is a registered nurse, palliative care worker and paramedic. Over 40 years, he provided end-of-life care to about 2,000 Queensland patients, witnessing what he calls intolerable suffering. 

Lydia*, a nurse of more than 30 years, has watched as countless people die. She is urging Queensland legislators to “listen to the pleas of everyday people”, so terminally ill people have a legal option to end their suffering.

"Even if one dying person suffers unnecessarily, it is one too many."

What if you could have a beautiful death? Free from suffering, in control and with your family around you?

I graduated from medical school 40 years ago. Increasingly I have seen divisiveness amongst medical practitioners caused by the ambiguities of the law regarding alleviation of suffering for the terminally ill.

As one of Western Australia’s longest serving registered nurses and one of Australia’s first to specialise in palliative care, Peta Nottle, 72, has seen more of death than most people.