Articles

Am I eligible for voluntary assisted dying?

You may be eligible for voluntary assisted dying (VAD) only if you meet all the legal rules where you live, and if the required health practitioners assess you as eligible.

4 min read

Are they suffering when breathing becomes noisy, irregular or stops for periods?

Noisy or irregular breathing near death can be very upsetting to hear, but it does not always mean the person is suffering.

2 min read

At what stage might someone with early dementia still be able to access VAD?

A person with early dementia may only be able to access VAD if they still have capacity and meet all other legal criteria, which can be a narrow and uncertain window.

2 min read

Can a facility stop a VAD practitioner from visiting me?

Whether a facility can stop a VAD practitioner visiting depends on state or territory law and the type of facility.

5 min read

Can a family member contact a VAD service on my behalf?

Yes, a family member, friend or carer can usually contact a VAD care navigator service to ask for general information.

7 min read

Can children be present during a VAD death?

Children may be able to be present during a voluntary assisted dying (VAD) death, but this needs careful planning.

6 min read

Can family play music, have a meal or perform a ceremony during a VAD death?

Often, yes.

5 min read

Can I apply for VAD even if I am not sure I will use it?

In places where voluntary assisted dying (VAD) is operating, a person can usually ask for information, start the process, and later decide not to continue.

2 min read

Can I decide not to return to hospital?

A person with capacity can usually decide not to return to hospital, but they need a clear home care and emergency plan.

4 min read

Can I give breakthrough morphine or other medicines myself?

Sometimes, yes, but only if the medicine has been prescribed for that person and you have clear instructions.

2 min read

Can I refuse antibiotics, hospital transfer, tube feeding or other treatment in advance?

You may be able to refuse treatments in advance, but the document must meet your state or territory rules and be clear enough to guide care.

2 min read

Can I refuse artificial nutrition or hydration?

A person may be able to refuse artificial nutrition or hydration, but the decision should be documented clearly and discussed with the treating team.

1 min read

Can I refuse further treatment if I do not qualify for VAD?

Yes, refusing treatment is legally different from VAD, and adults with capacity can usually refuse treatment even if they do not qualify for VAD.

2 min read

Can I request VAD in an advance care directive?

You cannot make a future VAD request through an advance care directive because VAD must be requested by the person while they have capacity.

1 min read

Can my palliative care doctor also be my VAD doctor?

A palliative care doctor may be able to be involved in VAD if they meet the legal requirements and choose to participate.

3 min read

Can someone be sedated continuously until they die?

Yes, continuous palliative sedation until death can be used in some situations.

5 min read

Can someone really die at home with proper medical support?

Yes.

2 min read

Can someone receive palliative care while pursuing VAD?

Yes, a person can usually receive palliative care while asking about or going through the VAD process.

5 min read

Can someone with a terminal illness access their superannuation early?

Yes, in some cases.

2 min read

Can someone with dementia access VAD?

Dementia does not automatically rule VAD in or out, but the person must meet all legal criteria and have decision-making capacity throughout the required steps.

7 min read

Can unexpected things happen during a VAD death?

Yes.

2 min read

Can VAD assessments be done by telehealth?

Telehealth may be possible for some VAD-related support, but some VAD assessment or request steps may be restricted or must be done another way.

6 min read

Do I ask my GP about VAD?

Yes, you can ask your GP about voluntary assisted dying (VAD).

5 min read

Do I need to call 000 or the police after an expected death at home?

Usually, no.

4 min read

Does a syringe driver mean the person is about to die?

No, not always.

5 min read

Does asking for information about VAD count as my formal first request?

Usually, asking for information about voluntary assisted dying (VAD) is not the same as making a formal first request.

4 min read

Does morphine make someone die sooner?

No, morphine does not usually make someone die sooner when it is prescribed and used carefully for pain or breathlessness in palliative care.

4 min read

Does starting palliative care mean stopping treatment?

No.

5 min read

How can I tell if someone is dying?

You may be able to tell someone is dying by looking at the whole pattern of change.

4 min read

How can something that slows breathing be safe in somebody who is already dying?

Morphine and some other medicines can slow breathing if the dose is too high for that person.

2 min read

How do families cope with knowing the exact date of a VAD death?

Knowing the planned date of a VAD death can help some families prepare, but it can also create pressure, dread and complex grief.

5 min read

How do I actually get palliative care?

The most common way to get palliative care is to ask the person's GP, specialist, hospital team, community nurse or other health provider for a referral.

6 min read

How do I actually start the VAD process?

In most places where voluntary assisted dying (VAD) is operating, the process starts when you make a clear first request to the right kind of health practitioner.

5 min read

How do I find a doctor who provides VAD?

The safest way to find a doctor who provides voluntary assisted dying (VAD) is to contact the official VAD care navigator or support service in your state or territory.

4 min read

How do I know if someone who cannot speak still wants food or drink?

You may not be able to know for sure.

4 min read

How do I know when to give breakthrough medicines at home?

Give breakthrough medicine only when the person's written plan says it is needed for the symptom you are seeing.

4 min read

How do I tell my children that someone they love is dying?

Tell children the truth in clear, gentle words.

2 min read

How does VAD work if I live in regional or rural Australia?

Regional and rural access to VAD may involve care navigators, travelling practitioners, local clinicians, travel support or telehealth limits.

5 min read

How early should I start the VAD process?

If voluntary assisted dying (VAD) may matter to you, ask for information early.

5 min read

How long does someone have once these changes start?

There is no exact clock.

6 min read

Is a VAD death usually peaceful?

Many families and clinicians expect a voluntary assisted dying (VAD) death to be calm, planned and private.

2 min read

Is it normal to feel relief as well as grief after a VAD death?

Yes, relief and grief can happen together after a VAD death, especially when someone had been suffering or the family had been under strain.

3 min read

Is palliative sedation just VAD by another name?

No.

5 min read

Is this person dying now, and what should I do?

They may be dying now if they are much sleepier or cannot be woken, are no longer eating or drinking, have changed breathing, have cool or mottled skin, pass very little urine, or seem confused, restless or less aware of you.

5 min read

Is what I'm seeing normal dying, or are they suffering?

Some changes that look frightening can be part of normal dying.

4 min read

Should children visit someone who is dying?

Children can visit someone who is dying if they want to, the visit is safe, and they are prepared for what they may see.

4 min read

Should I call an ambulance if someone is expected to die at home?

Not automatically.

4 min read

Should I make someone who is dying eat?

No.

4 min read

They've stopped eating and drinking. Are we starving or dehydrating them?

When someone is very close to death, stopping eating and drinking is usually part of the dying process.

5 min read

We've just been told the illness is terminal. What happens next?

Being told an illness is terminal means the treating doctor believes it cannot be cured and is likely to cause the person's death.

7 min read

What actually happens on the day of a VAD death?

On the day of a voluntary assisted dying (VAD) death, the person either takes the VAD medication themselves or, where the law allows it and the required approvals are in place, an authorised practitioner gives it to them.

4 min read

What are anticipatory medicines and why have they been prescribed?

Anticipatory medicines are medicines prescribed in advance in case symptoms happen suddenly, especially when someone is being cared for at home near the end of life.

2 min read

What can an advance care directive do if it cannot request VAD?

An advance care directive cannot request VAD, but it can record treatment refusals, values and who should speak for you if you lose capacity.

4 min read

What do I do if something frightening happens at 2 am?

If something frightening happens overnight, first check whether the person is in immediate danger.

4 min read

What do we do tonight if they become breathless, agitated or in pain?

Use the person's written palliative care plan first.

4 min read

What does dying from COPD look like?

Dying from COPD often involves worse breathlessness, less energy, more chest infections and flare-ups, and needing more help with daily life.

4 min read

What does dying from dementia look like?

Dying from dementia usually looks like a long, gradual loss of abilities, followed by a clearer final decline.

4 min read

What does dying from frailty look like?

Dying from frailty often looks like a slow loss of strength and reserve.

4 min read

What does dying from heart failure look like?

Dying from heart failure can be gradual, sudden, or a mix of both.

3 min read

What does dying from kidney failure look like?

Dying from kidney failure usually means the kidneys can no longer remove enough waste and extra fluid from the body.

3 min read

What does dying from motor neurone disease look like?

Dying from motor neurone disease usually happens because the muscles needed for breathing become too weak.

2 min read

What end-of-life choices do I still have if I cannot access VAD?

If VAD is not available to you, you may still have choices about palliative care, treatment refusal, place of care, advance care planning and symptom relief.

6 min read

What exact words do I need to say to ask about VAD?

You do not usually need magic words to ask about voluntary assisted dying (VAD).

3 min read

What happens after a VAD death?

After a VAD death, the usual after-death steps still happen, but some paperwork and reporting are handled through the state or territory VAD system.

1 min read

What happens if I am too unwell to travel for a VAD assessment?

If you are too unwell to travel for VAD assessment, contact the VAD navigator quickly so they can check local, visiting or lawful remote options.

2 min read

What happens if I become too sick to transfer to another facility for VAD?

If transfer becomes unsafe, the VAD team may need to explore local access, visiting practitioners, symptom care or whether the process can continue.

5 min read

What happens if my GP objects to VAD?

Your GP may be allowed to object to voluntary assisted dying (VAD) and choose not to take part.

2 min read

What happens if my hospital, hospice or aged-care facility does not participate in VAD?

If a facility does not participate in VAD, it may still have duties to give information, allow access or help with transfer, depending on the law where you are.

6 min read

What happens if someone cannot communicate shortly before a planned VAD death?

If someone cannot communicate shortly before a planned voluntary assisted dying (VAD) death, the VAD team must check what the law requires at that point.

6 min read

What happens if someone changes their mind at the last minute with VAD?

If someone changes their mind before taking or being given voluntary assisted dying (VAD) medication, the process should stop.

7 min read

What happens if someone loses capacity before completing the VAD process?

If a person loses decision-making capacity before completing the voluntary assisted dying (VAD) process, they usually cannot continue to access VAD.

4 min read

What happens if the family disagrees about treatment at the end of life?

If family members disagree about treatment at the end of life, the first step is usually a careful meeting with the treating team.

5 min read

What happens immediately after someone dies at home?

If the death was expected, there is usually no need to call `000` or the police straight away.

5 min read

What help is available if I have to stop working to care for someone who is dying?

If you need to stop work or reduce hours to care for someone who is dying, help may include workplace leave, flexible work discussions, Centrelink carer payments, Carer Gateway support, respite, social work help and financial counselling.

2 min read

What if I want VAD but do not qualify?

If you want VAD but do not qualify, you can ask why, check review options, and still receive palliative care and other end-of-life support.

2 min read

What is different about grief after a VAD death?

Grief after a VAD death can include ordinary grief as well as feelings linked to planning, secrecy, disagreement, relief or the known date of death.

3 min read

What is palliative sedation?

Palliative sedation is the careful use of sedating medicines to reduce a dying person's awareness so severe suffering can be relieved.

4 min read

What is the difference between palliative care, palliative sedation, stopping treatment and VAD?

Palliative care, palliative sedation, stopping treatment and voluntary assisted dying are different.

2 min read

What options exist if symptoms become intolerable despite treatment?

If symptoms feel intolerable, the first step is urgent specialist review because medicines, care plans, palliative sedation or VAD assessment may need to be discussed.

4 min read

What should children expect when they visit someone who is dying?

Children should be told, in plain words, what may be different before they visit someone who is dying.

5 min read

What should we organise after being told someone may only have months to live?

If someone may only have months to live, start with the supports that affect comfort, decision-making and safety: medical contacts, palliative care, medicines, home support, legal and financial documents, carer support, and the person's wishes for care.

2 min read