Victoria's voluntary assisted dying regime is safe and effective

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-05-18 00:01

Australia; VIC

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An analysis of the data from over six years of self-administered voluntary assisted dying medication in Victoria shows that the method is safe and effective, according to Australian research. The research is the largest reported experience of oral self-administration and outcomes globally. The study of 572 patients found that most patients took less than 10 minutes to lose consciousness, and all patients who swallowed the mixture successfully ended their lives. Most patients died within 30 minutes, and 86% had died within one hour. The researchers say that this has now been shown to be safe and effective and should be used to inform international decisions around access to assisted dying.