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First patient uses voluntary assisted dying laws
The 61-year-old cancer patient died amongst family, listening to her favourite music.
Jacqui Hicks, left, and Nicole Robertson, right, were at their mother Kerry Robertson’s bedside when she passed.
Details of the death, which occurred on 15 July in Bendigo, were released over the weekend by voluntary assisted dying advocacy group Go Gentle Australia.
Mother of two Kerry Robertson was the first person to receive a permit under the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act and also the first to see the process through to its end.
Ms Robertson was originally diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, but despite treatment it metastasised into her bones, lungs and brain. She stopped chemotherapy in March after the disease had also spread to her liver and the side effects became intolerable.
Chair of RACGP Victoria Dr Cameron Loy told newsGP the Act was introduced to give patients such as Ms Robertson options at the end of their lives, and that reports of her passing indicate it was a ‘good’ death.
‘It is totally expected that there will be patients who take up this option, as well as patients who want nothing to do with this option,’ he said.
‘Ms Robertson’s family describe a death on her terms and in the way she chose. All of the requirements in the law will have been met and they are extensive. This was Ms Robertson’s choice and Victoria has that choice available.’
The assisted dying process took 26 days to complete and Ms Robertson took the medication on the day it was dispensed by the state-wide pharmacy. Her daughter Nicole revealed Ms Robertson made her first request to access the scheme on the same day that legislation came into effect and that she had always known what she wanted.
‘She left this world with courage and grace, knowing how much she is loved. That was the greatest part, knowing that we did everything we could to make her happy in life and comfortable in death,’ she said.
‘It is the most compassionate, dignified and logical option for those suffering in the end stages of life.’
Ms Robertson’s other daughter, Jacqui Hicks, described her passing as a ‘beautiful, positive experience’ that was ‘the empowered death that she wanted’.
‘We were there with her; her favourite music was playing in the background and she was surrounded by love,’ Ms Hicks said.
‘It was quick, she was ready to go. Her body was failing her and she was in incredible pain. She’d been in pain for a long time.
‘Palliative care did their job as well as they could, but it had been a long battle. She was tired, the pain was intolerable and there was no quality of life left for her.’
Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos thanked Ms Robertson’s family and friends for sharing her story and said the first use of the state’s voluntary assisted dying laws was ‘an historic moment’.
‘The Victorian Parliament legalised voluntary assisted dying so that Victorians with an insufferable, terminal and incurable illness can have a genuine and compassionate choice at the end of their lives,’ she said.
‘Today we honour her memory and her bravery, and we offer our sincere condolences to those who loved her.’
The Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board has already met to review Ms Robertson’s case and will also review all future deaths that occur as part of the scheme.
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