❓ Hon Nick Goiran asks about support provided to individuals deemed ineligible for voluntary assisted dying in WA and where they are referred for care. The answer outlines the support from practitioners and the Statewide Care Navigator Service, with potential referrals to GPs, mental health, or palliative care services.
AnsweredQoN 1155Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to page 16 of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Board Western Australia Annual Report 2021-22 that notes that in the 2021-22 reporting period, 30 First Assessments
had a ‘not eligible’ outcome, and page 17 that states ‘In 2021-22, the most common reason patients
were found to be ineligible was because they had not been diagnosed with at
least one disease, illness or medical condition that would, on the balance of
probabilities, cause death within a period of 6 months or in the case of a
neurodegenerative disease, illness or medical condition, within a period of 12
months.’ The Annual Report also notes that some patients undertaking a First
Assessment in the reporting period were also deemed ineligible due to lack of
an enduring request for voluntary assisted dying, a lack of decision-making
capacity in relation to voluntary assisted dying and/or having been deemed by
the Coordinating Practitioner to not be experiencing suffering that cannot be
relieved in a manner that the patient considers tolerable. Further, page 21 states that 4 patients found eligible during the
First Assessment were then found not eligible during the Consulting
Assessment. In reference to the 30 First Assessments and
4 Consulting Assessments that were considered ineligible in the 2021-22
reporting period; I ask: (a) if a patient cannot ‘progress through the necessarily rigorous stages of assessment’ ( Voluntary Assisted Dying Board Western Australia Annual Report 2021-22 at p 3) because they do not meet the eligibility criteria of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2019 but they are nonetheless struggling to such an extent that they have sought assistance from a medical practitioner to die,
what supports are provided to that person if they are ineligible to access
voluntary assisted dying; and (b) to
whom are they referred for care in this instance?
had a ‘not eligible’ outcome, and page 17 that states ‘In 2021-22, the most common reason patients
were found to be ineligible was because they had not been diagnosed with at
least one disease, illness or medical condition that would, on the balance of
probabilities, cause death within a period of 6 months or in the case of a
neurodegenerative disease, illness or medical condition, within a period of 12
months.’ The Annual Report also notes that some patients undertaking a First
Assessment in the reporting period were also deemed ineligible due to lack of
an enduring request for voluntary assisted dying, a lack of decision-making
capacity in relation to voluntary assisted dying and/or having been deemed by
the Coordinating Practitioner to not be experiencing suffering that cannot be
relieved in a manner that the patient considers tolerable. Further, page 21 states that 4 patients found eligible during the
First Assessment were then found not eligible during the Consulting
Assessment. In reference to the 30 First Assessments and
4 Consulting Assessments that were considered ineligible in the 2021-22
reporting period; I ask: (a) if a patient cannot ‘progress through the necessarily rigorous stages of assessment’ ( Voluntary Assisted Dying Board Western Australia Annual Report 2021-22 at p 3) because they do not meet the eligibility criteria of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2019 but they are nonetheless struggling to such an extent that they have sought assistance from a medical practitioner to die,
what supports are provided to that person if they are ineligible to access
voluntary assisted dying; and (b) to
whom are they referred for care in this instance?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 February 2023
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Health
Response time
1 days
(a) A patient who is ineligible to access voluntary assisted dying is supported by their Coordinating Practitioner and the Statewide Care Navigator Service, if required.
(b) Where required, a Coordinating Practitioner will assess how the patient’s needs may best be met. This may include referral to:
(i) the patient’s usual treating GP.
(ii) community mental health care services.
(iii) community palliative care or specialist palliative care services.
(b) Where required, a Coordinating Practitioner will assess how the patient’s needs may best be met. This may include referral to:
(i) the patient’s usual treating GP.
(ii) community mental health care services.
(iii) community palliative care or specialist palliative care services.
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