Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017

A person exercising a power or performing a function or duty under this Act must have regard to the following principles—

every human life has equal value;

a person's autonomy should be respected;

a person has the right to be supported in making informed decisions about the person's medical treatment, and should be given, in a manner the person understands, information about medical treatment options including comfort and palliative care;

every person approaching the end of life should be provided with quality care to minimise the person's suffering and maximise the person's quality of life;

a therapeutic relationship between a person and the person's health practitioner should, wherever possible, be supported and maintained;

individuals should be encouraged to openly discuss death and dying and an individual's preferences and values should be encouraged and promoted;

individuals should be supported in conversations with the individual's health practitioners, family and carers and community about treatment and care preferences;

individuals are entitled to genuine choices regarding their treatment and care;

there is a need to protect individuals who may be subject to abuse;

all persons, including health practitioners, have the right to be shown respect for their culture, beliefs, values and personal characteristics.

In subsection (1), the reference to a person exercising a power or performing a function or duty under this Act includes VCAT.