EXPERT REACTION: Victorian euthanasia law 

As Victorian voluntary assisted dying laws begin, questions turn to how the law will work in practice. Initial challenges may include patients being unsure how to find willing doctors and health services working out how they will respond to requests for voluntary assisted dying. The need to resolve such issues is normal for major changes to laws or health care practice like this. The legislation included an 18 month implementation period to prepare for voluntary assisted dying becoming legal. That means there are already structures in place to help address these issues. One example is voluntary assisted dying care navigators who will help connect patients with doctors willing to assess them.

Now that Victoria has ‘broken through the wall’ with its voluntary assisted dying law reform, other States are likely to follow. Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia all have inquiries considering change. Although over forty attempts to change the law in Australia have failed in the past, more recent reform efforts appear to be getting closer to law changing. How Victoria’s law works in practice will inform whether other States follow the Victorian model or take a different approach.