What is voluntary assisted dying?
Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) means a person can ask for medical help to end their life.
The law in New South Wales says for a person to access VAD, they must:
- Be an adult (18 years or older)
- Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or have been living in Australia for at least three years
- Have been living in NSW for at least 12 months
- Have at least one disease, illness or condition which:
- Is advanced and is getting worse
- Is likely to cause death within six to 12 months
- Is causing you to suffer in a way which cannot be relieved
- Be able to decide for yourself
- Not have someone telling you what to do
- Have gotten approval from two doctors
What will my GP do to help me with voluntary assisted dying?
You can talk to your GP about VAD. Your GP can mention it if you are talking about other end of life care options. Your GP will let you know if they can help you with VAD. If they can’t, they will refer you to a GP who can help. Your GP will talk to you about your treatment and support options. They may also refer you to the Care Navigator Service.
