VAD
Voluntary assisted dying information and pathways.
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.
2 min readCan 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 readCan 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 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.
6 min readCan family play music, have a meal or perform a ceremony during a VAD death?
Often, yes.
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.
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.
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.
7 min readCan unexpected things happen during a VAD death?
Yes.
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.
2 min readHow 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.
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.
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.
6 min readIs a VAD death usually peaceful?
Many families and clinicians expect a voluntary assisted dying (VAD) death to be calm, planned and private.
2 min readIs 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 readIs palliative sedation just VAD by another name?
No.
7 min readWhat 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.
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.
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.
6 min readWhat 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 readWhat 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 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 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 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.
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.
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.
2 min readWho pays for travel needed to access VAD?
Travel costs for VAD depend on the state or territory, the person's location, available support programs and the travel scheme rules.
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.
2 min readWill my palliative care team judge me if I ask about VAD?
You can ask about VAD without having to justify your values, and your team should respond respectfully even if some staff do not participate.
2 min readWill my palliative care team still care for me if I ask about VAD?
A palliative care team should keep caring for you if you ask about VAD, although individual staff may have different roles or objections.
6 min readWill VAD hurt?
Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) is intended to cause death after the person takes or is given a prescribed VAD substance.