A coroner in Victoria has reported that eight individuals with deteriorating health, who were denied voluntary assisted dying (VAD), subsequently took their own lives since the legislation was introduced in 2017. One such case involved Geoffrey McConachy, an 82-year-old man who suffered a stroke in late 2022 that severely affected his speech and quality of life. In September 2023, he chose to end his life after inquiring about VAD and considering euthanasia options in Switzerland.
Coroner Simon McGregor determined that McConachy was ineligible for VAD due to the absence of a terminal prognosis despite his significantly reduced quality of life. He noted a troubling pattern where individuals experiencing irreversible health declines were denied access to VAD because they did not meet stringent criteria.
Family members expressed that refusals for assisted dying often led to feelings of despair and frustration, contributing to the decision to end their lives. McGregor emphasised the responsibility of coroners to identify such cases where the VAD process does not meet community needs. He has urged the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board to compile evidence to identify potential improvements in the state’s VAD procedures. His findings regarding McConachy’s case will be referred to the board for further consideration.