Is voluntary assisted dying safe?

Australia’s voluntary assisted dying laws are some of the most regulated in the world. Victoria, whose law began operation in 2019, shows the law is working safely and as intended. A Review Board oversees every application and publishes annual reports. Former Supreme Court Judge Justice Betty King, the Board’s inaugural Chair, said: I have been looking, believe me - I have seen no indication of any type of coercion.

There have been no reported complications and the drugs work effectively. Doctors say the most common words they hear loved ones use to describe the assisted deaths are ‘perfect’, ‘beautiful’ and ‘peaceful’. Read an account from a Victorian family whose loved one died by voluntary assisted dying.