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  4. Who can use Voluntary Assisted Dying in Australia?
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 or ACT. 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'm a doctor. 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? How can I talk about voluntary assisted dying with my family? Is voluntary assisted dying the same as suicide? What does the Australian public think about voluntary assisted dying? How many people use voluntary assisted dying laws in Australia?

Who can use voluntary assisted dying in Australia?

Answer

Australian assisted dying laws are some of the most restrictive in the world, intended to help a small number of terminally ill adults in extreme circumstances. To access voluntary assisted dying a person must:

  • Have a terminal illness likely to end their life within six months (or 12 months for neurological conditions. Queensland has a blanket 12 month timeframe for all illnesses) and experience unbearable suffering
  • Have decision-making capacity about voluntary assisted dying
  • Act freely and without coercion
  • Be aged 18+ and an Australian citizen/meet residency requirements
  • Have lived in the state for at least 12 months

Advanced age, disability or mental health conditions by themselves do not make a person eligible for voluntary assisted dying. To be eligible, a person must be terminally ill and satisfy all other eligibility requirements.