Premium
Implementing voluntary assisted dying in Victoria, Australia
Author(s) -
O'Connor Margaret,
Mandel Catherine,
Mewett Greg,
Catford DCH John,
McMaugh Jarrod
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the international journal of health planning and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1099-1751
pISSN - 0749-6753
DOI - 10.1002/hpm.3126
Subject(s) - legislature , public relations , process (computing) , work (physics) , perspective (graphical) , health professionals , complementarity (molecular biology) , medicine , business , nursing , political science , health care , computer science , engineering , law , mechanical engineering , artificial intelligence , biology , genetics , operating system
This paper describes the process undertaken to implement voluntary assisted dying (VAD) in Victoria, Australia. While the Bill became law in December 2017, an 18‐month implementation period was allocated to anticipate the clinical complexities of how VAD would occur in various settings, requiring an exhaustive process to address the significant changes required of health services.Implementation involved detailed health planning, and the process included a large range of health practitioners and community members, keeping a close eye to the complementarity of the various pieces of work, as well as the many safeguards required.Written from the perspective of those involved in planning the implementation, it is hoped that articulating this Victorian experience will assist others. Implementation is a complex process and takes time; it must be broadly collaborative and reflective, to ensure both health professionals and community members understand the legislative changes, as well as the responses required.