WA's voluntary assisted dying scheme more popular than expected

Voluntary assisted dying has become a more popular option for Western Australians than initially anticipated, with almost 3 per cent of deaths in the state now attributed to the scheme. The annual report into the operations of WA's voluntary assisted dying legislation reveals that the uptake has increased significantly since the law came into effect in July 2021.

In the 2023-2024 year, there were 541 deaths due to voluntary assisted dying, representing a 12 per cent increase on the previous year and a 181 per cent increase since the scheme began. These numbers exceed initial predictions and account for 2.9 per cent of all deaths in Western Australia annually.

Colin Holt, chair of the voluntary assisted dying board, attributes the growth to increasing awareness that voluntary assisted dying is an option for those with a terminal diagnosis. "In the 25/26 year, we had 541 deaths, which is about a 12 per cent increase on the previous year, and about a 181 per cent increase since we started the whole process five years ago," he said.

The surge in demand has put pressure on the small number of doctors authorised to provide voluntary assisted dying services. Eight doctors accounted for 53 per cent of all practitioner-administered deaths last year. Mr Holt emphasised the need for more doctors to participate in the process, noting that feedback from practitioners suggests it is a rewarding field. "We need more of those incredible people who participate as practitioners to come forward and be involved in the process," he said. "The feedback we get from practitioners is that it's an incredibly rewarding field to be participating in."

The board is also reviewing the current time restrictions, which require patients to have a condition expected to cause death within six months, or 12 months for neurodegenerative conditions. Mr Holt indicated that the board is open to exploring changes, particularly in light of experiences in other jurisdictions.

Stephen Walker, president of Dying with Dignity WA, expressed no surprise at the popularity of voluntary assisted dying and advocated for the legislation to be extended to include people with dementia. His organisation points to the Canadian province of Quebec as an example of how laws can be designed to accommodate such cases. "In Quebec, people can sign a particular form of advance health directive while they still have capacity," Mr Walker said. "They have to do it in consultation with a doctor who also signs it."

Mr Holt acknowledged the community's ongoing feedback on the issue of euthanasia for people who may have lost capacity, suggesting that there are lessons to be learned from international experiences. "I think there's a bit to learn from some of the Canada stuff and Quebec in particular, but I don't think we've completely solved the issue around retaining decision-making capacity throughout the whole process," he said.