Go Gentle Australia

17/03/2026

BREAKING NEWS: Scottish MSPs have voted 69–57 to reject the Assisted Dying Bill.
Liam McArthur MSP, who proposed the bill, says he is “devastated” — and so are the many dying Scots who have been waiting for end-of-life choice.
"I am sorry that parliament has denied you this compassionate choice tonight," McArthur said.
"This is not a conversation that is going away.
"For so long as dying Scots continue to suffer as a result of the lack of choice and safety afforded to them by the current law, I’m certain that it will be an issue in front of parliament once more."

💛 We stand with those who fought for this bill — and with the Scots who deserved better today.
Read more 👇

MSPs reject bill after concerted campaign to block it and despite amendments intended to placate critics

17/03/2026

🌿 “When I want to go, I want to go.”
That’s what Narelle told her daughters when she was diagnosed with endometrial cancer at 83.
A practical, resilient woman, Narelle had spent decades running a sugarcane and cattle farm on the NSW north coast.
When she became eligible for voluntary assisted dying (VAD), she felt relieved to have control over her end of life.
But there was one part she couldn’t understand.
To complete her VAD assessments, doctors had to fly in — resulting in three separate plane trips.
Surely one of those assessments could have been done by telehealth.
Australia is the only country in the world with laws that ban the use of telehealth for VAD.
There’s no evidence it’s unsafe. There’s plenty of evidence it improves access — especially for people in rural and regional areas.
This law is outdated. It needs to change.
Read more on our website 👇https://ow.ly/3Am150Yv3Jw

16/03/2026

🚨 Australia is the only country in the world that specifically bans the use of telehealth for voluntary assisted dying.

That’s the stark finding highlighted by Dr Helen Haydon from the University of Queensland, whose team reviewed 230 peer‑reviewed articles on telehealth and VAD.

Their conclusion?
👉 No evidence that telehealth poses a risk.
👉 Strong evidence that it improves access — especially for people in rural and remote communities, or those too unwell to travel.

At a time when equitable access matters more than ever, the research is clear: telehealth is safe, effective, and essential for terminally ill people wanting access to assisted dying.

It’s time for Australia’s laws to catch up with the evidence.

Telehealth could vastly improve access to voluntary assisted dying (VAD) in Australia and address a significant health inequity, University of Queensland-led research has found.

15/03/2026

Helena Hammer's terminally ill husband, Patrick, had wanted to access Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) peacefully on his back porch, holding her hand, with their two dogs at his feet.
However he lost the capacity to consent to VAD while he was waiting for his script to be sent by post.
Patrick’s GP said said if she had been able to upload the prescription to an electronic portal, the medication would have arrived in time.
The Commonwealth government's ban on telehealth in VAD heavily disadvantages people in rural and regional areas, like Patrick. It means all VAD assessments must be done in person and in Queensland and WA, scripts must be sent by snail mail.
Medical professionals, peak bodies, lawyers, academics and grieving families have all pleaded with the Federal Government to amend this law. It is a small change that means a lot for dying people and their families. When is it going to happen?
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18Wu5Ss553/

10/03/2026

Dr Laureen Lawlor-Smith shares her own perspective as a South Australian GP who has worked with around 160 people seeking Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD). Motivated by decades of end-of-life care, including witnessing both peaceful and traumatic deaths, she argues VAD restores dignity, control and relief, particularly where palliative care cannot address loss of independence or suffering.
🎧Listen here https://voicesfromvoluntaryassisteddying.com.au/

10/03/2026

Dr Chloe Furst is typical of many VAD practitioners in Australia who show great care and compassion for their patients, and deep commitment to their work. 💜

03/03/2026

👇👇

An NT News survey of candidates for the Nightcliff by-election this weekend (March 7) included a question on whether the candidates supported voluntary assisted dying. The results:

Ed Smelt (ALP) - YES
Suki Dorras-Walker (Greens) - YES
Anjan Paudel (CLP) - UNDECIDED
Phil Scott (Independent) - YES

Vote accordingly ! 💪

https://ow.ly/xwZO50YopBt

02/03/2026

🎉Congratulations Dr Chloe Furst and Annaliese Holland, winners in the 2026 Advertiser Sunday Mail SkyCity Woman of the Year Award. Both women are fierce advocates for voluntary assisted dying in their home state of South Australia - one as a doctor, the other as a patient. Thank you for all you do. 🙏
⭐Dr Chloe Furst - People's Choice Winner. Geriatric and Palliative Medicine Consultant; voluntary assisted dying (VAD) practitioner.
⭐Annaliese Holland - Inspiration of the Year. Advocate for better Palliative Care, approved for VAD.

26/02/2026

87 Canberrans have applied for and 14 terminally ill people have accessed a compassionate and dignified death in the first three months of voluntary assisted dying (VAD) in the ACT.

Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith revealed the numbers in an update to the Legislative Assembly this week.

"All the feedback I have received indicates that the first three months of voluntary assisted dying in the ACT have been positive for the Canberra community."

An update on the operation of voluntary assisted dying in the ACT reveals 14 Canberrans have accessed a compassionate and dignified death in the first three months.

24/02/2026

On 8-11 April, the Australian Centre for Health Law Research at QUT will host the 5th International Conference on Assisted Dying and Other End of Life Care (ICEL5).

This four-day interdisciplinary program showcases voluntary assisted dying (VAD) informed by international experience.

Go Gentle’s CEO Dr Linda Swan will present a snapshot of the state of VAD in Australia, and we are thrilled to present The Power of Choice photographic exhibition at a conference networking event.

Registration is now open. View the conference program 👉 https://ow.ly/mx6Z50YkOPP

22/02/2026

Perth man Jeffrey Eaton has shared the emotional story of his mother's VAD journey on TikTok, saying "she was ready". Jeff's mother, Lynn, had battled stage four lung cancer for the past five years and was living in aged care.
Jeff described Lynn as "fiercely independent" and recounted how she had refused morphine at the end. "This process has allowed her to go out with dignity and on her terms,'' he said.
Jeff praised the VAD team involved and pleaded for people to be aware of their end-of-life options.
"If your loved one...is diagnosed with a terminal illness, please, for the love of God, have this conversation."

17/02/2026

The ban on telehealth in Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) care impacts heavily on rural and regional patients, who must attend all assessments in person.
Uni of Melbourne professor James Hurley describes the case of a Victorian man who had a malignant brain tumour and needed three visits to the major regional cancer centre, several hundred kilometres away. Fortunately he was able to complete his VAD assessment and have his end-of-life choice.
“I don’t feel daunted by VAD… dying is something that happens to all of us and I can choose the end-of-life care that is right for me.”

Our vision is an Australia where we all have choice at the end of life. We empower people to choose the care that is right for them, including the option of voluntary assisted dying.