When David Levitt opted to undergo voluntary assisted dying, the one most distressed was the family dog. or signup to continue reading For the rest of his loved ones, the end of Dr Levitt's life was peaceful and gentle. His wife Pauline McGrath hopes other terminally ill Australians can die the way they want.
"He just wanted to die being held by the people who loved him most in the world," she said. "We laid him in bed, we surrounded him, and we talked to him about how important he was. "He drank the substance, and within two minutes, David gently went to sleep.
" In 2017, Victoria became the first state to legalise voluntary assisted dying, intended for those with a terminal illness suffering immense pain and wanting control over the circumstances of their death. Other states have followed suit, with voluntary assisted dying soon to be legal in every Australian jurisdiction except the Northern Territory, and demand is projected to grow. Since 2017, some 2460 people have opted to end their lives with the service, by charity Go Gentle Australia found.
Go Gentle Australia chief executive Linda Swan said the evidence painted a "reassuring picture of systems fulfilling their aim", with health professionals providing "kind and meticulous" support. "None of the dire predictions from opponents have come to pass and systems are working safely and with great compassion," she said. But barriers stand in the way of access for many Australians and Dr Swan said it was not clear if the righ.