Regulating voluntary assisted dying practice: A policy analysis from Victoria, Australia

Abstract

Background: Victoria is the first state in Australia to legalise voluntary assisted dying (elsewhere known as physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia). The Victorian law took effect in 2019 after an 18-month implementation period designed to facilitate policy development and other regulatory infrastructure.

Objective: To study publicly available policy documents regarding voluntary assisted dying in Victoria and the issues they seek to regulate.

Methods: Policies were identified using a combination of search strategies to capture documents aimed at a broad range of stakeholders including health practitioners, patients, and families. The policies were thematically analysed using the Framework Method.

Results: The study identified 60 policies and five themes: 1) conceptions of policy purpose; 2) degree of support for VAD; 3) guidance about process; 4) navigating conscientious objection; and 5) conceptualising voluntary assisted dying and its relationship with other aspects of end-of-life care. Outside of the detailed Victorian Government policies, there was little practical guidance for voluntary assisted dying provision. Instead, the non-governmental policies tended to focus on positioning regarding VAD and entry into the process.

Conclusion: The study demonstrates the value of a planned implementation period for jurisdictions contemplating voluntary assisted dying reform and highlights the challenges in policymaking for a practice that is contentious for some.