ArticleHealth expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy2023
Barriers to connecting with the voluntary assisted dying system in Victoria, Australia: A qualitative mixed method study.
Article in Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- From legalisation to practice: implementation of newly legalised health interventions in healthcare settings - a systematic review.BMJ open · 2026Pooled it
- Co-creating end-of-life choices education: A process description of a program to explore community death-literacy in preparation for voluntary assisted dying.Palliative care and social practice · 2026Article
- Institutional Responses to Voluntary Assisted Dying: An Empirical Study in Victoria and Western Australia.Journal of bioethical inquiry · 2025Article
- 'This is perfect, thank you': Research poetry on gratitude for voluntary assisted dying in Victoria, Australia.Australasian journal on ageing · 2025Article
- Should self-administered voluntary assisted dying be supervised? A Queensland case.The Medical journal of Australia · 2025Article
- Patients' and Caregivers' Suggestions for Improving Assisted Dying Regulation: A Qualitative Study in Australia and Canada.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2024Article
- Assisted dying: principles, possibilities, and practicalities. An English physician's perspective.BMC palliative care · 2024Review
- Barriers to connecting with the voluntary assisted dying system in Victoria, Australia: A qualitative mixed method study.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionVoluntary assisted dying (VAD) is increasingly being legalised internationally. In Australia, all six states have now passed such laws, with Victoria being the first in 2019. However, early research in Victoria on the patient experience of seeking VAD shows that finding a connection to the VAD system is challenging. This study analyses the causes of this 'point of access' barrier.
methodsWe conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with family caregivers and a person seeking VAD, with participants recruited via social media and patient interest groups. Data were thematically analysed. We also undertook documentary analysis (content and thematic) of publicly available reports from the oversight body, the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board.
resultsWe interviewed 32 family caregivers and one patient across 28 interviews and analysed six Board reports. Finding a point of access to the VAD system was reported as challenging in both interviews and reports. Four specific barriers to connecting with the system were identified: (1) not knowing VAD exists as a legal option; (2) not recognising a person is potentially eligible for VAD; (3) not knowing next steps or not being able to achieve them in practice; and (4) challenges with patients being required to raise the topic of VAD because doctors are legally prohibited from doing so.
conclusionLegal, policy and practice changes are needed to facilitate patients being able to find a connection to the VAD system. The legal prohibition on doctors raising the topic of VAD should be repealed, and doctors and institutions who do not wish to be involved in VAD should be required to connect patients with appropriate contacts within the system. Community awareness initiatives are needed to enhance awareness of VAD, especially given it is relatively new in Victoria. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Families and a patient were the focus of this research and interviews with them about the experience of seeking VAD were the primary source of data analysed. This article includes their solutions to address the identified point of access barriers. Patient interest groups also supported the recruitment of participants.
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