Annie Werner, 46, died peacefully in August after consuming a lethal substance provided under New South Wales' assisted dying laws. Among the 1141 applications, 398 people ended their lives via this method. The NSW Voluntary Assisted Dying Board seeks changes to federal law to allow telehealth consultations for terminally ill patients.
Annie Werner died in August after taking a lethal substance provided through NSW assisted dying laws.
NSW Voluntary Assisted Dying Board chair Jenni Millbank said they would continue to advocate for changes to the Commonwealth’s criminal act, which prevents doctors consulting terminally ill patients about euthanasia via telehealth.In the end, there were no grand speeches. Annie Werner had said everything she needed to say.
Werner, 46, died on August 25 at home in the Bega Valley, surrounded by her partner Genevieve, their two children, and a chosen family of friends.Barry mixed the lethal substance that would end her friend’s life. The pair had known each other since the mid-2000s , but their relationship took on a different dimension after Werner was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in 2018. Barry became her “mortality doula” – a companion to help her navigate through the final stages of her life.
In the seven months since VAD became legal in NSW, 1141 people applied to use it and 398 people died after an independent board deemed them eligible to take the lethal substance, data released on Friday revealed.In the board’s first annual report, chair Jenni Millbank said the program had proven both accessible and strongly safeguarded, but noted the Commonwealth’s criminal act, which prevents doctors raising euthanasia during telehealth appointments, remained a major barrier to access.
ASSISTED Dying NSW Voluntary Assisted Dying Board Jenni Millbank Telehealth Euthanasia Terminal Illness
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Annie Werner's Assisted Dying: A Life Filled with Love Ends GracefullyAnnie Werner, 46, passed away in August after consuming a lethal substance provided under NSW's assisted dying laws. In its first seven months, 398 individuals chose to end their lives through similar means. The NSW Voluntary Assisted Dying Board chair advocates for changes to the Commonwealth's criminal act to allow telehealth consultations for terminally ill patients. Annie's friend Sarah Barry was involved in preparing the lethal substance.
Read more »
Sarah helped her friend end her life. Here’s what it taught her about deathAssisted dying laws, introduced in NSW a year ago, helped Annie Werner regain some control lost when she was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer.
Read more »
Assisted dying bill to be published amid concerns over scrutiny of legislationMajor cross-party push under way to win over significant number of undecided MPs
Read more »
Two years after MND diagnosis, Roz Hervey says farewell before accessing voluntary assisted dyingRoz Hervey has accessed voluntary assisted dying two years on from her Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis.
Read more »
‘I was denied being with her in her last moments’: campaigners on assisted dying billAs bill which would allow terminally ill people to end their own lives enters parliament, those in support of the law change speak out
Read more »
Under 1,000 patients a year may opt for assisted dying if bill passes, MP saysKim Leadbeater outlines safeguards as some MPs worry proposal does not bar doctors in England and Wales from suggesting option
Read more »