I have recently spoken the Eulogy for my mother who died aged 99.333 years of age.  She was a tough old bird, having knocked on heaven’s door a few times. Even though we were expecting her to live to a 100, we discussed Voluntary Assisted Dying and she showed interest in having access to it.  However, the rules are that you can only be assessed for VAD  if one is expected to die in twelve months. Life expectancy for a 99 yr old woman according Google AI is 2.55 years.

My mum caught a chest infection and went downhill immediately and lost her mental capacity overnight.  Therefore, she was unable to be assessed for VAD.  When it was like that she was not responding to oral antibiotics and refusing to go to hospital, palliative care was called in.  Terminal sedation was charted and we, the family had to endure her dying slowly before our eyes.  One of her grandchildren even slept beside her on the floor overnight the night before she eventually died.  We are now left with our final vision of her being unconscious, mouth wide open with her head tilted well back and her hands gangrenous.  Certainly NOT a pretty sight to remember her by. ☹

The laws governing VAD in Queensland (and elsewhere) need to be changed. Anyone should be able to be assessed for VAD whilst having mental capacity.  Should mental capacity be lost and there is no hope of recovery, then the patient’s enduring power of attorney should be able to carry out their wishes and give them a good death.