Now that it is legal and available in all Australian states, it is inevitable that voluntary assisted dying will be raised in end-of-life discussions. But are health professionals ready?

Go Gentle Australia has welcomed a private member's bill that seeks to allow the use of Telehealth in voluntary assisted dying.

On the first anniversary of voluntary assisted dying in South Australia, the state’s independent oversight body says VAD is relieving suffering and providing choice at the end of life.

Drawing conclusions about changes in suicide rates based on the impact of a single, isolated factor is inherently flawed, as the Anscombe Bioethics Centre should know. So why has it weighed in on the debate about voluntary assisted dying in Australia?

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) has included voluntary assisted dying (VAD) in its statement on the essential elements of end-of-life care, following calls by Go Gentle Australia.

The Federal Court has ruled that, in the eyes of the law, voluntary assisted dying (VAD) and suicide are one and the same. This means doctors who discuss VAD with a patient via telephone, email or telehealth are at risk of prosecution and a $313,000 fine.

• Federal Court ruling is out of step with contemporary Australia

• Terminally ill people, especially in rural, regional and remote areas, will suffer

• Federal parliament must act to end discrimination against dying people

The South Australian VAD oversight body has released its latest quarterly report showing a 20 percent increase in the number of VAD permits issued during the quarter.

From 28 November 2023, eligible terminally ill people in NSW will have access to voluntary assisted dying, marking a significant milestone for NSW residents and for Australia as a whole.

To meet increased requests for voluntary assisted dying in Western Australia, the independent review board has called for a more sustainable service to avoid practitioner “burnout and fatigue”.