Introduction
This document provides a clear response for supporting individuals in relation to voluntary assisted dying (VAD). Voluntary assisted dying means an eligible person can ask for medical help to end their life. Generally, the person must have an advanced and progressive disease, illness, or medical condition that is expected to cause their death within six months.
A person must meet the eligibility criteria for the State in which they reside and follow all the legal steps for voluntary assisted dying to happen. This will allow them to take or be given a medication to bring about their death at a time that they choose. People with a disability have the same right to ask for voluntary assisted dying as others in the community.
Voluntary Assisted Dying is supported through your State’s Health System. Hireup is not an administering practitioner.
Statement
At Hireup we champion choice - we support clients to access information/medical advice they need to enact their human rights and ensure that the rights, dignity, and choices of individuals with disabilities are respected and protected. Where a client requests, we ensure to provide support to the individual to access information and services related to VAD.
A person can administer the VAD substance themselves, or have it administered by an administering practitioner. Hireup is not an administering practitioner, nor is Hireup able to provide physical support of any kind to a person self-administering.There are serious penalties across State based legislations for actively assisting with or administering the voluntary assisted dying substance without authority.
As a disability services provider, while we support in accessing information, we do not provide any further assistance with the process of VAD. This includes physically supporting someone in completing the process. For example, placing medication into the mouth of a client.
If a client requests information regarding VAD, refer them to their treating medical professional. Refer to the End of Life Directions for Aged Care for more information and State based contacts to access VAD.
If you need any support in relation to being asked to participate in VAD, please contact Hireup on (02) 9113 5933 from 8am - 5.30pm Mon - Fri or via email at hello@hireup.com.au. We can provide a range of support including end of life training for support workers, emotional support through our Employee Assistance Program, or support with managing difficult conversations.