Victoria has updated laws regarding medical decisions for those who are severely ill and won’t recover. The government introduced 13 amendments to regulations that began in 2017.
Premier Jacinta Allan made the changes public today. She said that the new regulations allow individuals who are in distress to make their own decisions regarding their care. The reforms also allow doctors to speak more openly with patients about what they can do when they are desperately ill.
Doctors Can Now Start the Conversation
This change allows physicians to bring up all medical options when discussing patients who have terminal illnesses. Previously, doctors were told under the law that they must wait for a patient to first raise the question. They were not allowed to bring it up themselves, even if they believed it could be helpful to someone who was suffering terribly. This kept many of these patients in the dark regarding what was possible for them during their darkest moments.
The state also extended the time limit. Previously, individuals were required to have less than six months of life expectancy. Now they may have a maximum of one year. This accommodates more individuals who require the choice but may have a little more time to live. Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas stated that they heard what doctors in Victoria needed. The physicians informed them they wanted to have open conversations with their patients without fear of going against the law.
Fewer Doctors Necessary to Approve
Another significant shift is the way so many doctors must give the okay. Individuals with diseases that gradually worsen require three separate physicians to concur. Under the new policy, only two physicians must screen and authorise everything. It speeds up the entire process and reduces the stress on families dealing with difficult times.
The new legislation gets Victoria’s laws more in line with the rest of the states throughout Australia. Thomas stated that the laws do effectively assist those in pain and suffering, but need to be revised so more Victorians could benefit. Premier Jacinta Allan clarified that those who are terminally ill and in pain are deserving of being able to make their own decisions about their remaining days of dignity and respect.
Victoria Led the Way Years Ago
Victoria was the initial state in contemporary Australia to enact these laws back in 2017. All the other states have followed since then. The ACT will implement its own next month. This is how popular it is around the nation for people to have more control over their medical treatment when they are seriously ill.
The Northern Territory is the only jurisdiction that has not adopted these laws currently. They already had them in 1997 before anybody else, but the federal government took them away at the time. To access these choice medical laws, individuals must be above 18 years of age and be residents of Victoria for a minimum of one year. They must also have a severe terminal condition that is causing them pain, and they must be in a position to make the request personally.
News At Glance
- Victoria altered 13 aspects of their medical choice legislation in 2017
- Doctors are able to recommend all options now, rather than waiting for patients to inquire
- The timeframe was reduced from six months to one year
- Now, only two doctors are required instead of three for some patients
- Victoria first state to have these new laws in 2017
- All states, apart from the Northern Territory, now have these laws
- They have to be 18, have lived in Victoria for one year, and be very ill
FAQs
- What did they change in the laws of Victoria?
Doctors can now discuss all medical options openly, the time limit has increased to a year, and fewer doctors are required to sign off.
- Why did they update this end-of-life law?
Doctors explained that they wanted to have open discussions with ill patients without being illegal, so the government complied.
- Who were the first to have these laws?
Victoria introduced them back in 2017, and the other states all followed suit afterwards.
- Are these medical options available for anyone?
No, just individuals aged over 18 that resided in Victoria for a year and have a terminal condition that’s causing them pain.
