Restricting conversations about voluntary assisted dying: implications for clinical practice.

On 19 June 2019, assisted dying became lawful in Victoria, the second most populous state in Australia. Section 8 of the The authors reviewed and analysed literature on the importance of communication at the EOL including the need to understand and appropriately respond to Desire to Die or Desire to Hasten Death statements. A legal critique of section 8 of the Victorian Contemporary literature suggests that open and honest communication between doctor and patient including the provision of information about all EOL options when sought by the patient represents good clinical practice and will lead to optimal EOL care. The provision of such information also reflects professional, ethical and legal norms. Despite (arguably) promoting an appropriate policy objective, the legislative prohibition on health professionals initiating conversations about voluntary assisted dying may, in cases where patients seek information about all EOL options, lead to less optimal patient outcomes.

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Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Competing interests: LW has been engaged by the Victorian Government to design and provide the legislatively mandated training for doctors involved in voluntary assisted dying. LW is also a member of the board of Palliative Care Australia (but this article only represents her views not those of Palliative Care Australia). BW has been engaged by the Victorian Government to design and provide the legislatively mandated training for doctors involved in voluntary assisted dying. DK is on the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board (but this article represents her views only). JD is a former member of the Physicians’ Advisory Committee for Dying with Dignity Canada, a group that advocated for the legalisation of voluntary assisted dying in Canada. He currently works at Bruyere Continuing Care, a Catholic healthcare facility. This article does not represent the views of either Dying with Dignity Canada or Bruyere Continuing Care. LD has no competing interests.