Letter to NT Legislative Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee on VAD
PCA provided a response drawing on its two key documents: Palliative Care and Voluntary Assisted Dying Position Statement and Voluntary Assisted Dying in Australia – Guiding Principles for those providing care to people living with a life-limiting illness.
PCA also provided a short overview of the key things we have learnt about the interactions between VAD and Palliative Care services from other jurisdictions where VAD is available.
- A strong connection between palliative care service patients and interaction with VAD services, recent reports show that around 80 percent of all VAD clients had received or were receiving palliative care.
- Community education is needed and must be resourced over several years. The community need to know what palliative care provides, and how it can be accessed. People need to understand that Palliative care is a right and not a choice. Choosing VAD does not preclude a person from accessing palliative care.
- The health workforce also needs to understand palliative care services and VAD processes in their jurisdiction. PCA advocates for ongoing education which is separate to specific education of clinicians to administer VAD.
- PCA noted barriers to palliative care services for Australians living in rural and remote Australia and again calls for further investment in palliative care services. These barriers also impact access to VAD.
- If the NT proceed with VAD, it will need to resource and co-design information and processes with First Nations peoples and organisations.
