In a first, Australian state allows euthanasia

An Australian state parliament has legalised euthanasia for the terminally ill with MPs voting to give patients the right to request a lethal drug to end their lives from 2019. The Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill was passed by the state parliament of Victoria after a comprehensive, historic and passionate debate in both lower and upper houses and the legislation.

The Bill will now go through an 18-month implementation period before it comes into effect in June 2019. Victorians living with terminal illness will have access to voluntary assisted dying after detailed deliberations resulted in amendments that strengthened the bill, and maintained its vital integrity and compassion. Victoria is the first state to pass voluntary assisted dying laws in Australia.