Victorian Coroner Simon McGregor calls for expanded voluntary assisted dying scheme to be reviewed after eight deaths

Eight people with declining health took their own lives after being denied access to one state’s voluntary assisted dying (VAD) regime – with a coroner suggesting a review of the controversial scheme. Victorian Coroner Simon McGregor suggested more people should be allowed access to the procedure after reviewing the death of Geoffrey McConachy, who took his own life after he was denied access to the procedure. Mr McConachy suffered a stroke in 2022 that affected his speech and led to a serious depressive illness, Mr McGregor found. “He lost interest in life and no longer wanted to go for walks, play backgammon or do things he had previously enjoyed,” Mr McGregor said. “He openly spoke about suicide, stating he had nothing to live for and was ‘done’. “In this context he requested that one of his sons obtain a pamphlet for him on voluntary assisted dying. “He also discussed with his sons the possibility of flying to Switzerland where he could legally access euthanasia.” Mr McGregor said the 82-year-old man would not have been eligible to access VAD in Victoria, which reserves the procedure for people suffering from an incurable, advanced and progressive disease that is expected to cause death within six months. It is also restricted to those experiencing intolerable suffering. “Geoffrey had a greatly reduced quality of life but no terminal prognosis,” Mr McGregor said. Mr McConachy took his own life in September 2023. Mr McGregor said the coroner’s office had found eight cases of people who had tried to access VAD, were refused because they did not meet all the relevant VAD criteria, and subsequently took their own lives. “A recurring theme throughout many of these deaths was the impact that voluntary assisted dying refusal had on the deceased,” Mr McGregor said. “Family members often reported that when people believed they would have access to voluntary assisted dying they maintained hope that they would be able to exercise control over how they died. “When their access to voluntary assisted dying was refused, their consequent despair and frustration contributed to their decision to take their own life.” The coroner recommends legislators consider widening the eligibility criteria to capture those suffering an irreversible decline in their health or a greatly reduced quality of life, but who may not have a specific disease expected to cause death within six months. “Victoria’s coroners are among the very few people in a position to identify and investigate when the voluntary assisted dying process does not meet the needs of Victorian community members, including people like Geoffrey who are experiencing irreversible decline in their health and who wish to exercise choice over the timing and manner of their deaths,” he said. “I believe I therefore have a duty and responsibility to notify such instances to the bodies responsible for administering Victoria’s voluntary assisted dying process … I would ask the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board to remain open to considering this finding as part of a developing body of evidence about where there may be opportunities to improve the operation of voluntary assisted dying in the state.” news.com.au mental health helplines