Voluntary assisted dying uptake in WA far higher than predicted

Almost 3 per cent of deaths in Western Australia are now due to patients using voluntary assisted dying (VAD), and authorities expect growth to continue.

The annual report into the operations of WA's VAD legislation has found the uptake has increased significantly since the law came into effect in July 2021.

"In the 25/26 year, we had 541 deaths, which is about a 12 per cent increase on the previous year, and about a 181 per cent increase since we started the whole process five years ago," Colin Holt, chair of the VAD board, told 102.5 ABC Perth.

The numbers are far greater than were predicted when the law came into effect, and account for 2.9 per cent of all deaths in Western Australia annually.

Mr Holt says the increase is likely due to more people becoming aware of the option to use VAD if they have a terminal diagnosis.

This has put increasing pressure on the small number of doctors who are authorised to provide VAD services. The annual report notes that eight doctors did 53 per cent of all practitioner-administered deaths last year.

"We need more of those incredible people who participate as practitioners to come forward and be involved in the process," he said.

"The feedback we get from practitioners is that it's an incredibly rewarding field to be participating in."

Mr Holt said the board is also looking at whether the current time restrictions, which mean patients can only apply if they have a condition that is expected to cause death within six months, or 12 months for neurodegenerative conditions, are too restrictive.

Debate over dementia continues

Stephen Walker, president of Dying with Dignity WA, said he was not surprised by the popularity of VAD since the law was introduced.

His organisation now wants to see the legislation extended to allow people with dementia to access VAD, and said experiences in the Canadian province of Quebec showed it was possible to design laws that allowed for it.

"In Quebec, people can sign a particular form of advance health directive while they still have capacity," Mr Walker said.

"They have to do it in consultation with a doctor who also signs it.

"When the person reaches the stage or condition that they have carefully stipulated in their advance health directive, carers or family members can report that apparent state of the patient to doctors.

"Two doctors assess the patient, and they can, but importantly, they don't have to, terminate that person's life."

Mr Holt said the question of euthanasia for people who may lave lost capacity was an issue the board received ongoing feedback on from the community.

"I think there's a bit to learn from some of the Canada stuff and Quebec in particular, but I don't think we've completely solved the issue around retaining decision-making capacity throughout the whole process," he said.

"When you've got advanced dementia, when you're nearing death, you often lose capacity to make those decisions."