Victoria has become the first Australian state to legalise voluntary euthanasia

Victorians with a terminal illness can apply to end their life using a medically-provided lethal cocktail of drugs.

The Victorian government has stressed the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act, which was passed in November 2017 and came into effect on June 18, is the safest and most compassionate in the world providing a number of safeguards to prevent abuse.

Under the legislation, only Victorian residents aged over 18 with decision-making capacity, who are suffering and have an incurable and advanced illness will be eligible.

Applicants must make three clear requests and have two independent medical assessments. The requests must always be initiated by the person themselves.

Medical practitioners are not permitted to raise the issue with patients and can face unprofessional conduct investigations if they do. The medical assessments must confirm that the patient is likely to die within six months or 12 months in the case of a neurodegenerative condition.

About 100 doctors including GPs, cancer specialists and palliative care clinicians around the state are already undertaking specialist training in patient assessment. About one third of these doctors are in regional Victoria.

Doctors can conscientiously object to assisting patients to obtain voluntary assisted dying but, under the legislation, cannot impede them.

There are also safeguards to prevent patients being pressured into making the decision.

The drug which can be prescribed under the Act, will be dispensed by pharmacists at the Alfred Hospital. The exact make-up of the drug is not being revealed but it is believed it is similar to Nembutal.

A locked box will contain a lethal dose of the drug along with two other liquid medications, with which it must be mixed; and step-by-step instructions. A patient must mix the medications themselves before swallowing the mix which will be around 100 ml (about one third of a cup).

Patients who are unable to swallow can have the drug administered intravenously by a medical practitioner.

The pharmacy will deliver the medications to those patients throughout Victoria who are too sick to travel.

"A person's quality of death is part of their quality of life - and everyone deserves a genuine compassionate choice," said Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.

"This is the most conservative model of its kind in the world. We know that only a small number of people will choose to access voluntary assisted dying, but it will make a world of difference for those who do."

It is anticipated that around 100 to 150 people a year in Victoria will access voluntary assisted dying.

The Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board will review every instance of voluntary assisted dying being accessed to ensure high safety standards are met.

Health law expert Neera Bhatia from Deakin Law School said it was important to emphasise that voluntary assisted dying would only be available to, and accessed by, a very limited few.

"There may be an initial surge of interest however due to the strict criteria it will not be accessible to many," Associate Professor Bhatia said.

"But there is another piece of important legislation that ensures the wishes of all Victorians can be respected at the end of their lives," she said.

The Medical Treatment Planning and Decisions Act 2016, which quietly came into effect in Victoria last year, allows people to make an advance care directive outlining their future medical wishes and treatment preferences.

It offers a legally binding way for people to refuse or consent to specific treatments including those that will prolong their life, something that could previously be overturned once a person was deemed to lack mental capacity.

"Many of us won't meet the stringent criteria for voluntary assisted dying, but we still want to die 'a good death' and have some control over our end-of life decision making," Associate Professor Bhatia said.

A bill to legalise voluntary assisted dying has failed to pass the New South Wales' Upper House by a single vote in 2017.

In Queensland a Government inquiry into aged care, end-of-life and palliative care and voluntary assisted dying is due to report in November.

The WA Government is currently looking at voluntary assisted dying legislation.

Public submissions are currently being sought by South Australia's parliamentary inquiry into End of Life Choices and must be received by August 1.

Dying with Dignity Tasmania is currently researching a Bill o voluntary assisted dying to be presented to Parliament later this year.

More information of voluntary assisted dying in Victoria is available here

If this article raises any distressing issues or you need emotional help contact: Lifeline 131-114, lifeline.org.au or beyondblue 1300-224-636 beyondblue.com.au