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Dying with Dignity ACT is a non-profit organisation of volunteers committed to law reform to enable ACT citizens to have assistance to die.
The Law in Canberra
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ACT Health Minister’s stance on VAD and dementia
Dying with Dignity ACT has for some time been pressing the Health Minister about the guidelines for VAD practitioners, in the hope that there would be flexibility to allow options for people with dementia who still have mental capacity.
The Minister has responded that "I appreciate your view that the changes you propose to allow access to VAD for people with early stage dementia do not require legislative change and could instead be enacted through clinical guidelines. However, this would represent a major change to the policy underpinning the ACT’s VAD framework that could have ramifications far beyond early access for neurodegenerative conditions, including dementia.
The full text of the Minister's letter can be read here.
VAD segment on ABC Radio
Consumers should be consulted
The ACT government has, by accident or by design, excluded consumers from involvement in determining who will or will not be able to access VAD when the scheme starts operation in November this year’ says the President of Dying with Dignity ACT, Sam Delaney