Nine states and the District of Columbia currently have laws that permit assisted dying, but the laws are so restrictive that they are often more hurdle than help.
Without an understanding of the complexities of medically assisted dying, it’s difficult for patients and families to make good decisions.
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Nurses who surround the process of medically assisted dying are an important source of insight into the real conversations our society needs to have about what it’s really like.
Formally planning ahead in case of illness or injury can provide you a voice when you may no longer have one - here’s our guide
On May 16, 2019, Madeleine Munier Apaire (shown here in June 2014), lawyer for Vincent Lambert’s nephew, considered that all remedies were “exhausted”.
Eric Feferberg/AFP
The debate over Mr. Vincent Lambert’s decision to discontinue his care overshadowed equally important judicial and ethical issues. A look back at a complex situation that will set a precedent.
David Goodall had a good life and he wanted a good death, even though he wasn’t terminally ill. An end-of-life expert explains why he should have this right.
Symptoms of an illness usually improve the closer a person gets to dying.
Photo by Dawid Zawiła on Unsplash
Excruciating pain at the end of life is extremely rare. The evidence shows pain and other symptoms, such as fatigue, insomnia and breathing issues, actually improve as people move closer to death.
Victoria’s model is pretty conservative compared to other jurisdictions that have legalised euthanasia or assisted dying.
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The Victorian assisted dying laws are based on those in Oregon, which are quite conservative. Laws in the Netherlands, Belgium and Canada are more relaxed.
Victoria’s parliament passed historic legislation to legalise assisted dying.
Joe Castro/AAP
Doctors often overestimate the time a patient has left to live. In the case of Victoria’s assisted dying bill, an optimistic prediction could deny the patient the peaceful death they deserve.
The bill to legalise assisted dying was introduced to the NSW Legislative Council in September, 2017.
MICK TSIKAS/AAP
Lindy Willmott, Queensland University of Technology; Andrew McGee, Queensland University of Technology, and Ben White, Queensland University of Technology
The main arguments used by those who voted against assisted dying – including that the bill has insufficient safeguards – in Victoria’s upper house, deserve further scrutiny.
Palliative care involves a team of specialised health professionals who provide an extra layer of support to the person and their family.
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The Victorian law provides if a child has made a valid advance directive including instructions to refuse a particular medical treatment, a health practitioner must not provide that treatment.
Dying at home isn’t necessarily a good death.
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