Parliamentary Questions & Answers

Question On Notice No. 551 asked in the Legislative Council on 22 February 2022 by Hon Martin Aldridge

Question Directed to the: Leader of the House representing the Minister for Health
Parliament: 41 Session: 1

Question

I refer to voluntary assisted dying (VAD) in Western Australia, and I ask:

(a) by region, how many medical practitioners and nurse practitioners are currently registered and trained to act as coordinating or consulting practitioners;

(b) how many submission's of relevant forms to the VAD Board have been made that relate to the:

(i) first request;

(ii) first assessment;

(iii) consulting assessment;

(iv) final request; and

(v) prescription of substance and administration decision;

(c) has the VAD Board provided any information to the Minister under section 118(b) of the Act and, if yes, will the Minister please provide details:

(i) I refer to Question on Notice 464 asked on 15 December 2021, confirming that the VAD Board has provided information to the Minister under section 118(b) of the Act and ask why the Minister did not table that information as requested; and

(d) has the VAD Board made any referral under section 118(c) of the Act and, if yes, will the Minister please provide details?

Answered on 22 March 2022

(a) Please refer to the answer provided to Question on Notice 464, section (a). As at 18 February 2022, there are an additional 2 registered and trained medical practitioners in Western Australia.

(b) As at 1330hrs on 23/02/2022, the Voluntary Assisted Dying Board has received the following submissions of relevant forms:

	Form?	Number of?submissions?
(i)	First Request?	514
(ii)	First Assessment?	256
(iii)	Consulting Assessment?	219
(iv)	Final Request?	189
(v)	Administration Decision and Prescription?	187

(d) The Voluntary Assisted Dying Board has not made any referal under section 118(c) of the Act.

Summary of information provided to the Minister under section 118(b)

Regular responses to the following questions:

1. How many Western Australians have registered their interest in accessing VAD?

2. When is the first person likely to use it??

Responses provided:

08/07/2021

1. 16

2. At this stage it is not possible to predict when the first person is likely to?actually access?VAD.?

20/07/2021

1. 32

2. At this stage it is not possible to predict when the first person is likely to?actually access?VAD.?

27/07/2021

1. 47