This article in The Age newspaper on 15 September shares two heartbreaking stories of patients whose access to VAD was made horrendously difficult because of the shortage of specialist doctors in their regional areas of Victoria.
Janet Williamson died in May after months of agonising pain and an almost three-week delay for a specialist doctor appointment in Trafalgar.
Don Wright's access to VAD was hindered by the lack of accredited doctors though, unlike Janet, he did ultimately access the medication and end his life, after his daughter reached out for assistance to Dying With Dignity Victoria.
For both patients, their final days were filled not only with the pain of their illness, but with uncertainty, anxiety and frustration as time was running out for them to access VAD medication.
As Melissa Cunningham, writer of this article, says:
"Families of rural Victorians who have tried to access the assisted dying laws say the reforms do not go far enough and some terminally ill people in the regions die before they can be approved for access to the medication to end their lives. Others are left fighting to access the medication in their final days."
(Note:The Age allows visitors to read up to 30 articles per month at no charge before a paywall is activated, requiring a subscription for further access.)