101 euthanasia deaths in 6 months in Victoria Australia.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Kaitlyn Offer reported for Australia's AAP that there were 101 assisted deaths in the first 6 months of 2021. Nine were administered by a medical practitioner (euthanasia) and 92 were self-administered (assisted suicide). There were 94 assisted deaths in the last 6 months of 2020.

The report indicated that 132 lethal doses were obtained in the first 6 months of 2020, meaning that many of these people will die in the second half of 2021.

There is already pressure to expand Victoria's euthanasia law.

Offer stated that the euthanasia report highlighted that the legislation prevented consultations happening via telehealth, describing it as undermining quality of care and lacking compassion.

Offer also reported that the inaugural chair of Victoria's Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board, Betty King, is stepping down from the role.

According to the data, from legalization (June 19, 2019) to June 30, 2021, there have been 325 deaths by Victoria Australia's euthanasia law with 276 dying by assisted suicide and 46 dying by euthanasia.

For more information about the Victoria Australia euthanasia law go to the Australian Care Alliance website (Link).