Central Coroner to hold inquest into voluntary euthanasia scheme after Qld widower’s death

Euthanasia drugs and how they are dispensed will be the focus of an inquest following the death of an elderly Queensland widower who took a lethal dose prescribed for their terminally ill partner.

Central Coroner David O’Connell will investigate the death of an elderly widower who took euthanasia drugs prescribed for his terminally ill wife. Photo: Kari Bourne / Sunshine Coast Daily

Euthanasia drugs and how they are dispensed will be the focus of an inquest before the Central Coroner after an elderly widower took a lethal dose prescribed for their terminally ill partner, in what is the first suspected abuse of the voluntary assisted dying scheme.

The terminally ill partner had been approved to legally end her life under Queensland’s VAD laws however their health deteriorated and they died in hospital without taking the drugs, which had been provided to them.

It is understood after the death the elderly spouse had been required to return the medication within 14 days, but instead went home and consumed the lethal dose.

The state’s VAD laws came into effect 12 months ago in January 2023, about 15 months after the legislation passed in state parliament.

Central Coroner David O’Connell, who covers an area from the Whitsundays south to Gayndah, will investigate the death with a pre-inquest conference set to take place next week at the Mackay courthouse.

The scope of the inquest includes whether or not the prescribed timelines for the return of the unused self-administration VAD substances was observed by the VAD Care Co-ordinator.

It will also investigate if such timelines were not observed “to what extent (if any) did they contribute to the death” and “if such timelines had been observed, would this death likely have been prevented?”.

Central Coroner O’Connell will also explore whether the currently mandated VAD procedures pertaining to the supply and “recovery and disposal of unused self-administration VAD substances” are adequate to minimise the risk of any unauthorised use or if they could be made safer.

Examples of this could include minimising the time they are not under the direct control of an authorised health professional while still maintaining appropriate recognition of the privacy, compassion, and autonomy interests of patients and their families.

The pre-inquest conference will take place next Wednesday.