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.
If you cannot access voluntary assisted dying (VAD), you still have important choices. These may include palliative care, refusing or stopping treatment, advance care planning, choosing where you are cared for, asking for family meetings, and getting help for severe symptoms.
Not qualifying for VAD does not mean you must accept every treatment.
General information: This page gives general information for people in Australia. Treatment rights, advance care directives and VAD rules differ between states and territories. Confirm your options with your treating team or legal adviser.
Choices about care
You can ask for palliative care early. You can ask what can be done for pain, breathlessness, nausea, agitation, fear, grief or spiritual distress. You can ask whether care can happen at home, in hospital, in hospice or in aged care.
Choices about treatment
If you have capacity, you can usually refuse treatment. You can ask about stopping treatment that is no longer helping or that feels too burdensome. You can also make an advance care directive for future situations.
Choices about who is involved
You can ask for a family meeting, interpreter, cultural support, spiritual care, social worker or patient advocate. You can choose who you want involved in discussions, unless the law or safety concerns prevent this.