Eight people committed suicide after their requests for voluntary assisted dying were denied, according to a court hearing.

According to a recent report by a coroner, eight individuals who were struggling with deteriorating health have tragically taken their own lives since the introduction of voluntary assisted dying laws in Victoria. One of these individuals was an 82-year-old man named Geoffrey McConachy, who suffered a stroke during a trip to see his son in 2022. This stroke greatly impacted his ability to speak and enjoy life, ultimately leading to his decision to end his life in September 2023.

Before his passing, Mr. McConachy had expressed interest in learning more about voluntary assisted dying in Victoria and even considered the possibility of legal euthanasia in Switzerland. However, the coroner, Simon McGregor, determined that Mr. McConachy would not have been eligible for voluntary assisted dying due to a lack of terminal prognosis, despite his significantly diminished quality of life.

Sadly, Mr. McConachy's case is not an isolated incident. The coroner's report revealed that there have been eight other deaths by suicide since the implementation of the laws in 2017, where individuals were deemed ineligible for voluntary assisted dying because they did not meet strict criteria. Additionally, there was a ninth death that could not be confirmed as suicide, but it was a possibility.

In his findings, Coroner McGregor noted a common theme among these cases – the impact of being denied access to voluntary assisted dying. Family members of the deceased reported that the refusal had caused their loved ones to experience despair and frustration, ultimately leading to their decision to take their own lives.

As one of the few individuals in a position to investigate these cases, the coroner believes it is his duty to bring attention to any instances where the voluntary assisted dying process may have failed to meet the needs of the Victorian community. He has urged the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board to consider developing a body of evidence to identify opportunities for improvement in the system.

The findings of Mr. McConachy's death will be referred to the board, and the coroner hopes that this will contribute to a better understanding of the challenges and potential improvements in the voluntary assisted dying process. In the meantime, for anyone struggling with thoughts of suicide, please reach out to Lifeline at 13 11 14 for support.

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