About Us

The Organisation and Its Aims

Founded in 1974, Dying with Dignity Victoria (formerly the Voluntary Euthanasia Society of Victoria Inc.) (DWDV) is an education, "self-help" and law reform organisation pursuing public policies and laws in the state of Victoria that enhance self-determination and dignity at the end of life.

Our aims are:

• to promote legislation that gives effect to freedom of choice and individual human rights to acknowledge the right of terminally and incurably ill people with profound suffering to die with dignity. See our Legislative Charter
• to carry out a continuing public education policy to achieve such legislation;
• to educate the public in the need for Living Wills and Advance Directives
• and provide counseling and other assistance to people on their end of life rights

DWDV is a member of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies and its mission statement can be viewed here.

The Need

For many people the process of dying involves pain and suffering. With developments in medical science, this process can be extended, often indefinitely. Sometimes the pain cannot be controlled without unacceptable side-effects; sometimes it is not pain that causes the suffering, but the loss of control over bodily functions and total dependence on others. In such situations, the patient may not be facing imminent death but may be suffering from an incurable, degenerative illness, such as multiple sclerosis or motor neurone disease.

In short, our aim is to change the law so that medically assisted dying is permitted at the request of competent, incurably ill people who wish to avoid pointless suffering and degeneration, and to control their own dying. more... why we need law reform.

DWDV in Action

Lobbying politicians and writing submissions with the aim of achieving law reform to allow medically assisted dying at the request of rational, informed, profoundly suffering adults.

Working to improve both the legislation and the practical impact of the Medical Treatment Act.

Informing the general public, professionals and students through media interaction, talking to community groups and sponsoring public lectures and workshops.

Providing members with information and other member services including counseling and forms to facilitate protection of their end of life rights.

Fighting for Our End-of-Life Rights

We will not rest until full legislative reform is achieved but DWDV activities over the years have been effective in bringing about a limited number of changes. In particular it was DWDV activity that helped bring about the Medical Treatments Act (1985). This formally legalised peoples' common law right to refuse medical treatment.

That act also gave people the right to appoint an agent to act for them as their Medical Enduring Power of Attorney. Importantly, the Act also stated Parliament's belief that it is "desirable that dying patients receive maximum relief of pain and suffering”.

DWDV also played a helping role in bringing about the Northern Territory 'Rights of the Terminally Ill' Act (ROTI) passed in 1995. The model used for that legislation was originally developed by DWDV (with the assistance of Prof. David Kelly the former Chair of the Law Reform Commission).

DWDV also plays a watchful role to ensure that what end or life rights we do have, do not get eroded or abused:

• For example, in 2002 DWDV alerted the Health Department to deficiencies in and abuses of the Medical Treatment Act. This resulted in a major campaign to educate the public and health professionals about the Act.
• And, in 2003 DWDV supported and counseled the family of BWV, a woman with dementia in a persistent vegetative state, whose life was being maintained against her wishes by tube feeding. The case led to a Supreme Court decision that tube feeding is deemed medical treatment and as such patients have the right to refuse it (unlike palliative care which can not be refused). Just how far we have come is apparent if you read the harrowing story of Rachel, a 94 year old who was hospitalised in 2002, prior to that Supreme Court decision.

more... history of DWDV activity

DWDV takes the opportunity wherever possible to legally 'confront' and protest against the inadequate existing state of the law in Victoria.

Your questions answered: FAQs.

Patrons

• Julian Burnside QC
• Hon. Rod Mackenzie OAM

DWDV IS NOT ABLE TO HELP
PEOPLE END THEIR LIVES