❓ Hon Nick Goiran questions the Voluntary Assisted Dying Board regarding complications and timelines associated with both practitioner-administered and self-administered voluntary assisted dying substances, seeking detailed data on patient outcomes and experiences.
AnsweredQoN 1158Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to page 25 of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Board Western Australia Annual Report 2021-22 that states patient
deaths by practitioner administration totalled 147 deaths in the reporting
period, while patient deaths by self-administration totalled 43 deaths in the
reporting period, and compare this with page 26 which states complications were reported in 2.7% of deaths,
or in the deaths of four patients, following practitioner administration. All of these complications were reported
following practitioner assisted oral ingestion and related to
regurgitation/vomiting, coughing and the length of time for the voluntary
assisted dying substance to take effect, I ask: (a) where length of time was reported as a
complication arising following practitioner administration, what was the length
of time between practitioner administration and patient death caused by the
administration of the voluntary assisted dying substances in each case; (b) all of the complications reported following
practitioner administration related to assisted oral ingestion. Given that 43 patients elected to
self-administer voluntary assisted dying substances within the reporting period
via unassisted oral ingestion or unassisted ingestion via PEG or NG tube, has
the Voluntary Assisted Dying Board collected any data or received any feedback
from practitioners, family members, friends or Contact Persons about
complications that arose following these 43 instances of self-administration
via unassisted oral ingestion or unassisted ingestion via PEG or NG tube; and (c) of those 43 patients who elected to
self-administer voluntary assisted dying substances, what was the period of
time that elapsed between the date of the supply of the voluntary assisted
dying substance and the date of their death caused by self-administration of
the voluntary assisted dying substance?
deaths by practitioner administration totalled 147 deaths in the reporting
period, while patient deaths by self-administration totalled 43 deaths in the
reporting period, and compare this with page 26 which states complications were reported in 2.7% of deaths,
or in the deaths of four patients, following practitioner administration. All of these complications were reported
following practitioner assisted oral ingestion and related to
regurgitation/vomiting, coughing and the length of time for the voluntary
assisted dying substance to take effect, I ask: (a) where length of time was reported as a
complication arising following practitioner administration, what was the length
of time between practitioner administration and patient death caused by the
administration of the voluntary assisted dying substances in each case; (b) all of the complications reported following
practitioner administration related to assisted oral ingestion. Given that 43 patients elected to
self-administer voluntary assisted dying substances within the reporting period
via unassisted oral ingestion or unassisted ingestion via PEG or NG tube, has
the Voluntary Assisted Dying Board collected any data or received any feedback
from practitioners, family members, friends or Contact Persons about
complications that arose following these 43 instances of self-administration
via unassisted oral ingestion or unassisted ingestion via PEG or NG tube; and (c) of those 43 patients who elected to
self-administer voluntary assisted dying substances, what was the period of
time that elapsed between the date of the supply of the voluntary assisted
dying substance and the date of their death caused by self-administration of
the voluntary assisted dying substance?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 February 2023
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Health
Response time
1 days
(a) In 2021–22, there was one complication relating to length of time for the substance to take effect. This was reported in the Annual Report as one of the deaths that occurred after more than 60 minutes following administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance. Details will not be provided on this one case due to patient and family confidentiality.
(b) Yes.
(c)
Number of days between supply of voluntary assisted dying substance and patient death from self- administration of the voluntary assisted dying substance 2021-22
Number of days between supply and death
Count of patients
0 days
19
1 day
4
2 days
2
3 days
3
4 days
1
5 days
1
9 days
1
13 days
1
15 days
1
21 days
1
23 days
1
25 days
1
27 days
1
29 days
1
41 days
1
49 days
1
50 days
1
107 days
1
115 days
1
(b) Yes.
(c)
Number of days between supply of voluntary assisted dying substance and patient death from self- administration of the voluntary assisted dying substance 2021-22
Number of days between supply and death
Count of patients
0 days
19
1 day
4
2 days
2
3 days
3
4 days
1
5 days
1
9 days
1
13 days
1
15 days
1
21 days
1
23 days
1
25 days
1
27 days
1
29 days
1
41 days
1
49 days
1
50 days
1
107 days
1
115 days
1
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