In short:
A Victorian has used voluntary assisted dying medication supplied to their partner to die by suicide.
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Victorian → use → suicide
The person is believed to have taken the medication in the days after the death of their partner, who had applied to use the medicine before dying in hospital.
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who → believe → hospital
The matter has been referred to the coroner.
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matter → refer → coroner
A case in which the partner of a Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) applicant used the drugs to end their own life has been referred to the Victorian coroner.
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partner → use → coroner
The incident was outlined in the most recent annual report from the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board, which oversees compliance with VAD laws that came into effect in 2019.
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that → outline → 2019
The report said the applicant had been diagnosed with cancer and was granted a permit to self-administer the medicine in February this year, but died in hospital two months later.
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applicant → say → hospital
It is believed their partner then used the medication in the days afterwards.
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partner → believe → days
The board and Victoria's Department of Health carried out an investigation and found proper process had been followed.
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process → carry → investigation
"The Board has found no evidence that any aspect of the VAD request and assessment process, or the dispensing of the substance, contributed to the circumstances that followed," the report stated.
"
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report → find → circumstances
The program continues to operate safely, and this incident does not alter the Board's assessment of the safety and integrity of the VAD framework.
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incident → continue → framework
However, it said the issue highlighted the importance of grief support for the partners, families and carers of applicants.
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issue → say → applicants
"Dedicated grief and bereavement support services for VAD remain a recognised gap in the community,"it said.
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services → dedicate → community,"it
"The circumstances of this incident reinforce the need for the program to strengthen the support available to contact persons and family members, both during the VAD process and after the applicant's death."
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program → reinforce → death
The matter has been referred to the coroner.
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matter → refer → coroner
A care navigator program provides support for those using the program as well as their families and carers.
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program → provide → program
Regulator says non-compliance 'low'
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compliance → say → ?
The incident is believed to be the first of its kind in Victoria.
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incident → believe → Victoria
The Victorian government said safeguards around the provision of the medication were robust and stringent.
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safeguards → say → medication
"This was a tragic incident and we extend our sincere condolences to the family, loved ones and all those affected," a spokesperson said.
"
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spokesperson → extend → family
We know end-of-life care can be an incredibly difficult time for families and carers."
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care → know → families
In its report, the Voluntary Asssisted Dying Review Board said the rate of non-compliance remained "low" at about 2 per cent of applications.
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rate → say → applications
Those non-compliances typically involved "administrative errors that do not present material risks to applicants", it said.
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it → involve → applicants
But about 400 applications were withdrawn before the substance were dispensed, most often because the applicant had died.
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applicant → withdraw → ?
To be eligible, applicants must be suffering from an advanced illness that is expected to kill them within six or 12 months depending on their condition.
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that → suffer → condition
The majority of applicants in 2025-26 had a cancer diagnosis and the median applicant age was 74 years.
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age → have → diagnosis
Amendments passed by the Victorian Parliament late last year removed a ban on doctors initiating discussions about VAD with patients, among other changes set to take effect next year.
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doctors → pass → effect
The Aporia