Planning Ahead
Treatment choices, documents and practical preparation.
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.
2 min readAt 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.
7 min readCan 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.
5 min readCan 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 readCan 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.
2 min readCan 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 readCan 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 readCan 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 readCan 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 readCan 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.
2 min readCan 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 readCan someone with a terminal illness access their superannuation early?
Yes, in some cases.
2 min readCan 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.
2 min readCan 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 readDo I ask my GP about VAD?
Yes, you can ask your GP about voluntary assisted dying (VAD).
5 min readDoes 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 readDoes starting palliative care mean stopping treatment?
No.
5 min readHow 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 readHow 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 readHow 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 readHow do I know if someone who cannot speak still wants food or drink?
You may not be able to know for sure.
2 min readHow 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 readHow early should I start the VAD process?
If voluntary assisted dying (VAD) may matter to you, ask for information early.
5 min readHow long does someone have once these changes start?
There is no exact clock.
4 min readThey'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 readWe'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.
4 min readWhat 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 readWhat 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 readWhat do I do if something frightening happens at 2 am?
If something frightening happens overnight, first check whether the person is in immediate danger.
2 min readWhat 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.
1 min readWhat 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 readWhat 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 readWhat 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 readWhat 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 readWhat 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 readWhat 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 readWhat 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.
2 min readWhat 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 readWhat 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.
4 min readWhat 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 readWhat 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.
5 min readWhat 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 readWhat support is available for families after a VAD death?
Families after a VAD death can seek support from palliative care, VAD services, GPs, grief services, counselling, spiritual care and crisis lines.
7 min readWho can be present during a VAD death?
The person choosing voluntary assisted dying (VAD) usually decides who they want with them, if anyone.
4 min readWho can refer someone to palliative care?
A GP, medical specialist or other health provider can usually refer someone to palliative care.
4 min readWho decides when family members disagree about end-of-life care?
When family members disagree, the decision-maker is not automatically the loudest person, the closest relative in a social sense, or a family vote.
4 min readWho decides whether palliative sedation is used?
Palliative sedation is a medical treatment.
2 min readWhy can't an advance care directive request VAD for later?
An advance care directive cannot request VAD for later because VAD law requires a current personal request and current decision-making capacity.
2 min readWill a VAD doctor travel to me?
A VAD doctor may be able to travel in some situations, but availability depends on the jurisdiction, workforce and travel support arrangements.