Terminally ill Victorians have applied for voluntary euthanasia

The first Victorian patient has been given a voluntary assisted dying permit and others have begin the application process, following the introduction of euthanasia in Victoria.

The first terminally ill Victorian has been given a voluntary assisted dying permit and other patients have begun the application process.

If acted upon, it will be the first person to die using euthanasia in Victoria, allowed under controversial new laws that came into effect on June 19.

The Herald Sun has confirmed at least one permit has been issued with more expected in coming weeks.

The identity of the person and their illness remains protected.

The patient can choose to dispense lethal medication at any time, but is not required to take the drugs — which must be kept in a locked box.

A Department of Health and Human Services spokesman declined to confirm how many patients have begun the process.

“We cannot confirm details about doctors and people accessing voluntary assisted dying,” he said.

“We know that doctors are talking to patients about voluntary assisted dying and are carrying out assessments.

“It is giving people at the end of their life a genuine and compassionate choice over the manner and timing of their death.

“The Victorian model for the Voluntary Assisted Dying system is working.”

Under the law, only adults with the capacity to make decisions and who have a disease or condition likely to cause death within six months — or a year for those with neurodegenerative conditions — are able to access the scheme.

A permit is issued after two medical professionals have signed off on the application, and a cooling-off period has passed.

Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos

The first permit comes after controversy last month, when doctors of terminally ill patients were warned of a federal law that could see them prosecuted for encouraging suicide if they carried out any consultation via phone or internet.

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Health Minister Jenny Mikakos issued a written warning to all professionals saying all patient doctor interactions should occur in person.

“What has come to light is a potential intersection with a commonwealth law, an offence provision that relates to inciting or counselling someone through a carriage service,” Ms Mikakos said at the time.

“We are acting here in a very cautious way. There will be no direct impact on voluntary assisted dying in Victoria. Effectively we are working around the Commonwealth law by providing this advice.”