Victorian Numbered Acts

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VOLUNTARY ASSISTED DYING ACT 2017 (NO. 61 OF 2017) - SECT 5

Principles

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

        (a)     every human life has equal value;

        (b)     a person's autonomy should be respected;

        (c)     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;

        (d)     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;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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