Having previously been against assisted dying, New Zealand specialist GP Jo Scott-Jones describes the immense privilege of helping someone die in the way they want, and offers insight into the personal and professional considerations involved.

Dr Sarah Pickstock, a West Australian palliative care specialist, has supported many 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.

"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.

My late father used to say that suffering from advanced emphysema was like gasping for air after running a marathon, and having a sock stuffed into your mouth. So when my sister Peggie Nairn also developed cigarette-induced emphysema she had some idea of what to expect.