What actually happens on the day of a VAD death?

Australia · 29 August 2026 · 7 min read · Reviewed by Dr Kane Treble

General information: This page gives general information for people in Australia. It cannot tell you exactly what will happen in one person's situation. If you have concerns about a symptom, medicine, treatment decision or change in someone's condition, contact their doctor, palliative care team, nurse or other treating health professional. VAD laws, forms and service pathways differ by state and territory, so confirm the current rules with the person's VAD practitioner or official VAD care navigator service.

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. The person must still be choosing VAD freely and must still have decision-making capacity for VAD at the required points in the process.

Many people plan the day in detail. Some choose a quiet room at home. Some choose a hospital, hospice, residential aged care service or another place that can legally and practically support the process. The exact arrangements depend on the person's state or territory, the permit or authorisation in place, the setting, and whether the person is self-administering or receiving practitioner administration.

VAD is operating in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory. News reports said the Northern Territory Parliament passed VAD laws on 27 August 2026, with implementation to follow. At 29 August 2026, an official operational commencement source for the Northern Territory was not verified for these pages, so the Northern Territory is treated here as not yet operational.

Before the medication is used

By this stage, the person will already have gone through legal request, assessment and approval steps. These commonly include more than one request, independent assessment by trained practitioners, and checks that the person is acting voluntarily and has capacity. The details are different in each jurisdiction.

Before the day, the VAD team will usually talk with the person about where they want to be, who they want nearby, what support is available, what to do after death, and how unused medication must be returned. A pharmacist or authorised service may provide information about safe storage, preparation and use of the medication.

The person does not have to go ahead. They can stop or pause the process, including very late in the process, unless the medication has already been administered and cannot be reversed.

If the person is self-administering

Self-administration means the person takes the VAD medication themselves. No one else can take that final step for them. In some places, another person may help with practical tasks that the law allows, but they must not administer the medication unless they are an authorised practitioner acting within the law.

The person may choose the time and place, subject to state or territory rules. In several jurisdictions, the person is encouraged not to be alone, but a witness or health professional may not always be legally required for self-administration. If the person chooses to be alone, there should be a clear plan so their death can be known, certified and managed.

Some people want family, friends, a spiritual care person, a nurse, their VAD practitioner or another support person nearby. Others want fewer people present. This should be planned in advance, including who will call the doctor, palliative care service or funeral director after death.

If a practitioner is administering

Practitioner administration means an authorised doctor, nurse practitioner or other authorised practitioner, depending on the jurisdiction, gives the VAD medication. This is only available when the law and the person's approvals allow it.

The practitioner will need to be present. Some jurisdictions require a witness, and some set rules about who can witness. The practitioner must complete the final legal and clinical checks required in that place. These may include checking that the person still has decision-making capacity, is acting voluntarily, and has not changed their mind.

The person may need to make a final administration request or give final permission in the required form. If the person uses gestures, a communication aid, an interpreter or a speech pathologist, this should be arranged before the planned time.

What people nearby may notice

The usual expectation is that the person becomes sleepy, loses consciousness, and then dies. The timing varies. A Victorian study of self-administration between 2019 and 2025 found most people lost consciousness within 10 minutes and most died within an hour, but some deaths took much longer.

It is not possible to promise that every VAD death will look the same. People nearby may see changes in breathing, colour, sounds, movement or timing. These can be distressing even when the person appears unconscious. If a health professional is present, they can assess comfort and respond within their role and the law.

After the person dies

After death, the planned person usually contacts the doctor, palliative care service, VAD practitioner or funeral director, depending on the setting and local instructions. In a hospital, hospice or aged care service, staff will guide the next steps.

The death certificate rules differ. In several jurisdictions, the underlying illness is recorded as the cause of death and VAD is not shown on the family death certificate. Some jurisdictions have specific notification duties to the VAD board, commission or coroner. The treating practitioner, certifying doctor or VAD service should explain what applies.

Unused or remaining VAD medication must be returned or disposed of through the authorised process. This is often the contact person's responsibility after self-administration, but the rules differ by jurisdiction.

When to get help now

If the person has not yet taken or been given the medication and there is a new symptom, distress, confusion, pressure from someone else, or doubt about capacity, contact the VAD practitioner, palliative care team or official VAD care navigator service before going ahead.

Call 000 if there is an immediate life-threatening emergency and the person is not in an expected VAD or expected-death process, or if the agreed care plan says to call an ambulance. If a death is expected at home, follow the plan given by the treating team.