Voluntary Assisted Dying
Abstract:
This webinar focuses on the complex and emotionally challenging area of voluntary assisted dying with the aid of subject experts from across Australia.
Overview
Voluntary assisted dying laws have now been passed in every Australian State. While voluntary assisted dying remains unlawful in the NT and the ACT, Commonwealth laws that prevented the territories from legalising voluntary assisted dying have now been abolished.
If you don’t practise in end-of-life care, or even if you don’t want to offer voluntary assisted dying to your patients, it’s likely that you’ll encounter patients or relatives who ask you about voluntary assisted dying laws and how they may apply to them.
It’s crucial that members understand their rights and obligations under voluntary assisted dying laws and remain respectful of the different views and choices terminally ill patients and their families make. Remaining objective and supportive to those who may choose not to participate in voluntary assisted dying processes is extremely important.
We’ve gathered various case scenarios and put together a panel of subject experts from across Australia to help you navigate this emotionally challenging part of clinical practice and complex area of law.
Speakers
Facilitated by Dr Owen Bradfield, MIPS Chief Medical Officer. Dr Owen Bradfield is a qualified medical practitioner and health lawyer. With over 10 years’ experience in medical indemnity, Owen combines his role at MIPS with academic research at the University of Melbourne where he examines the intersection between doctors’ wellbeing and medico-legal claims, complaints and disciplinary processes.
Professor Ben White – Professor of End-of-Life Law and Regulation, School of Law, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane. He has been researching end-of-life law, policy, and practice for over 20 years, and now focuses on voluntary assisted dying. Ben’s work has contributed to evidence-based voluntary assisted dying law reform and implementation. Key work (with Lindy Willmott) includes their model Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill and developing the mandatory training in Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland for clinicians providing voluntary assisted dying.
Dr Andrea Bendrups – Rheumatologist, Royal Melbourne and Cabrini Hospitals Melbourne. Dr Bendrups has been a consultant general physician and rheumatologist at the Royal Melbourne Hospital since 1991. Patients with chronic organ specific conditions are usually diagnosed and managed by a sub-specialist team until such time as further treatment is deemed futile. From this time patients' admissions to hospital and outpatient consultations become longer and more focussed on strategies to improve quality of life and advance care planning. This role is often undertaken in the general medicine units where she has worked since 1991.
Ms Melanie van Dieman – Voluntary Assisted Dying Care Navigator, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne. Melanie completed her undergraduate degree in health science and social work at Monash University and completed a Master’s in Public Health and Health Management at UNSW in 2020. Her clinical experience is in palliative care and ICU at Eastern Health and the Royal Melbourne Hospital. She has also worked as a team leader and clinical education co-ordinator at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and as a State Wide Voluntary Assisted Dying Care Navigator since April, 2019.
Gemma McGrath – Director Panetta McGrath Lawyers, Perth. Specialising in providing advice to health practitioners and hospitals in civil claims for negligence and disciplinary proceedings. Prior to studying law, she trained as a registered nurse. She is recognised in Doyle’s Guide as a pre-eminent Western Australian medical negligence and malpractice lawyer (Defendant). She is also named in Best Lawyers in the categories of insurance law and professional malpractice litigation. Gemma is a member of the Australasian Professional Indemnity Group, Australian Insurance Law Association and Law Society of Western Australia.
Audience
This event is most relevant to medical practitioners, but any MIPS member who wants to find out more about this topic is welcome to attend.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this session, participants will understand:
- Define where voluntary assisted dying is currently lawful in Australia.
- Demonstrate the lawful discussion of voluntary assisted and to assess capacity.
- Outline where to go to access further information, advice, and resources relevant to your jurisdiction.
The event will provide 1.5 hr CPD under the Educational Activity category and offer a 1 hr CPD post event reading and self-reflection. To achieve recognition of CPD activities, participants must complete all components of this webinar (live event and /or post event) and provide MIPS all requested documentation.