Voluntary Assisted Dying: Alfred Health’s Approach
The Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 came into effect on 19 June 2019. It allows a person in the late stages of advanced disease to take medication prescribed by a doctor that will bring about their death at a time they choose – often at home supported by family and friends.
Alfred Health’s approach to Voluntary Assisted Dying is to partner with General Practitioners who, in the main, act as a patient’s coordinating medical practitioner.
Alfred Health clinicians may act as consulting medical practitioners, when appropriate, providing expert opinion on a person's prognosis or capacity.
For inpatients who have approved access to Voluntary Assisted Dying medications, we will help to return them back to the comfort of home, so they can use the medications at a time of their choosing.
Important information for GPs:
- Make requests for an Alfred Health consulting medical practitioner through a written referral
- Fax this referral to Alfred Health Specialist Clinics’ central referral fax number on (03) 9076 6938 and telephone the GP Liaison Service on (03) 9076 2620.
- GP Liaison representatives will discuss each referral with the appropriate Head of Unit and keep the coordinating medical practitioner informed about the availability of consulting practitioners.
You can enquire about Alfred Health’s Voluntary Assisted Dying approach by calling GP Liaison Service on (03) 9076 2620 or gp.liaison@alfred.org.au
For further information:
- Contact Voluntary Assisted Dying Navigators at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, (03) 8559 5823
- DHHS information on Voluntary Assisted Dying
- Learn about Alfred Health's approach to Voluntary Assisted Dying