Have your say: Review of Voluntary Assisted Dying in NSW

Dying with Dignity NSW is preparing a submission to the NSW Government’s legislative review of the Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) law, that has been operating since November 2023.

We want our submission to reflect the views and experiences of our members and supporters.

Please complete and submit this Survey by Friday 20 February 2026.

About the Review
The purpose of the Review is to consider the operation of the NSW VAD law. It will be conducted by the Ministry of Health and the Health Minister’s response will be tabled in Parliament by the end of the year.

To find out more about the Review you can read the Background Paper here.

About the Survey
The Survey contains a number of core questions. However, we've included some free text fields if you would like to provide more detail about your responses. The Survey should take around 15 minutes to complete (depending on how much additional detail you’d like to add).

All responses will be kept confidential.

If you have a personal experience of VAD in NSW (either yourself or with a family member or friend) we’d really love you to share your experiences of the process (both positive and negative).

Future law reform
The Review is limited to the operation of the current VAD law but our submission will also address areas where we believe the scope of the law could be expanded in the future - see question 18.

We really appreciate your time in completing this Survey. The views of our members and supporters will provide important data for our submission to the Review. Your responses will also guide our future advocacy and help determine our priorities over the next few years.

CONSENT

Question Title

* 1. All survey results will be kept confidential but we would like your consent to include some of your responses to support our submission. All quotes will be de-identified to protect privacy. If you agree to this please tick the box.

I consent to my de-identified comments being quoted in Dying with Dignity’s submission to the NSW Review.

YOUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT VOLUNTARY ASSISTED DYING IN NSW

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* 2. How would you rate your understanding of how VAD works in NSW?

Very good

Reasonable

Limited

Very poor

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* 3. Are you aware that:

	Yes	No	Unsure
Voluntary Assisted Dying is legal and operating in NSW.	Voluntary Assisted Dying is legal and operating in NSW. Yes	Voluntary Assisted Dying is legal and operating in NSW. No	Voluntary Assisted Dying is legal and operating in NSW. Unsure
To be eligible for VAD, a person must have an illness or condition that is expected to cause death within 6 months (or 12 months for neurodegenerative diseases).	To be eligible for VAD, a person must have an illness or condition that is expected to cause death within 6 months (or 12 months for neurodegenerative diseases). Yes	To be eligible for VAD, a person must have an illness or condition that is expected to cause death within 6 months (or 12 months for neurodegenerative diseases). No	To be eligible for VAD, a person must have an illness or condition that is expected to cause death within 6 months (or 12 months for neurodegenerative diseases). Unsure
A person must have decision-making capacity at all stages of the VAD process (ie If you have dementia or lose cognitive ability you are not be eligible for VAD).	A person must have decision-making capacity at all stages of the VAD process (ie If you have dementia or lose cognitive ability you are not be eligible for VAD). Yes	A person must have decision-making capacity at all stages of the VAD process (ie If you have dementia or lose cognitive ability you are not be eligible for VAD). No	A person must have decision-making capacity at all stages of the VAD process (ie If you have dementia or lose cognitive ability you are not be eligible for VAD). Unsure
NSW Health operates a centralised VAD Care Navigator Service to assist people seeking to access VAD and facilitate their VAD applications.	NSW Health operates a centralised VAD Care Navigator Service to assist people seeking to access VAD and facilitate their VAD applications. Yes	NSW Health operates a centralised VAD Care Navigator Service to assist people seeking to access VAD and facilitate their VAD applications. No	NSW Health operates a centralised VAD Care Navigator Service to assist people seeking to access VAD and facilitate their VAD applications. Unsure
A person’s eligibility for VAD must be assessed by two trained and authorised VAD doctors.	A person’s eligibility for VAD must be assessed by two trained and authorised VAD doctors. Yes	A person’s eligibility for VAD must be assessed by two trained and authorised VAD doctors. No	A person’s eligibility for VAD must be assessed by two trained and authorised VAD doctors. Unsure
Residential aged care facilities must allow the VAD process to take place onsite, even if the facility operator has a conscientious objection to VAD.	Residential aged care facilities must allow the VAD process to take place onsite, even if the facility operator has a conscientious objection to VAD. Yes	Residential aged care facilities must allow the VAD process to take place onsite, even if the facility operator has a conscientious objection to VAD. No	Residential aged care facilities must allow the VAD process to take place onsite, even if the facility operator has a conscientious objection to VAD. Unsure
Privately operated hospitals and hospices in NSW can refuse to allow any part of the VAD process onsite.	Privately operated hospitals and hospices in NSW can refuse to allow any part of the VAD process onsite. Yes	Privately operated hospitals and hospices in NSW can refuse to allow any part of the VAD process onsite. No	Privately operated hospitals and hospices in NSW can refuse to allow any part of the VAD process onsite. Unsure

YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH VOLUNTARY ASSISTED DYING

Question Title

* 4. Have you or someone you know (eg family member or friend):
(Tick all that apply)

Enquired about VAD in NSW?

Started the VAD application process?

Applied for VAD and been approved?

Applied for VAD but been found ineligible?

Been approved for VAD but died before using VAD medication?

Been approved for VAD and died after using VAD medication?

Not applicable

Please feel free to provide further detail or make any comments about that experience (positive or negative).

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* 5. Have you or someone you know (eg family member or friend) made a request to a doctor about VAD?

Yes

Not sure

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* 6. If you answered yes to question 5 above, what was the outcome? (Tick all that apply)

Doctor was knowledgeable about VAD and the eligibility criteria and application process.

Doctor was an authorised VAD doctor and accepted the request.

Doctor refused the request but provided VAD information and contact details for the NSW Health VAD Care Navigator Service.

Doctor was a conscientious objector.

Doctor refused the request without explanation.

Doctor said VAD was not available, not legal or that the patient was not eligible for VAD.

Doctor discouraged discussion about VAD and/or tried to dissuade the patient from applying for VAD.

Doctor was judgmental or critical about the person’s interest in VAD.

None of the above.

Please feel free to provide further detail or make any comments about that experience (positive or negative).

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* 7. Do you have a personal story you’d like to share with us about an experience with VAD in NSW? If yes, we will contact you directly.

Yes

Have your say: Review of Voluntary Assisted Dying in NSW

Question Title

* 1. All survey results will be kept confidential but we would like your consent to include some of your responses to support our submission. All quotes will be de-identified to protect privacy. If you agree to this please tick the box.

Question Title

* 2. How would you rate your understanding of how VAD works in NSW?

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* 3. Are you aware that:

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* 4. Have you or someone you know (eg family member or friend):(Tick all that apply)

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* 5. Have you or someone you know (eg family member or friend) made a request to a doctor about VAD?

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* 6. If you answered yes to question 5 above, what was the outcome? (Tick all that apply)

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* 7. Do you have a personal story you’d like to share with us about an experience with VAD in NSW? If yes, we will contact you directly.

* 4. Have you or someone you know (eg family member or friend):
(Tick all that apply)