Dr Robert Ray2
1Barwon Health, 2Deakin University
Currently, 1,850 Australians await organ transplants from deceased donors. Persisting difficulties in meeting needs for transplantation mean that every opportunity for donation of organs or tissues for transplantation is valuable and possibly life-saving. Organ donation following voluntary assisted dying (dVAD) is an internationally recognised form of organ donation that has the potential to increase donation rates in Australia and is a rare example of an ethically complex practice for which there is no legal barrier in Australian jurisdictions that have legalised VAD. Despite significant international experience with dVAD, there has been little discussion of the potential for this and related ethical and practical considerations in the Australian context. Even with the challenges of addressing ethical and practical concerns, establishing ethically safe and effective programs of dVAD in Australia is feasible and necessary.
The purpose of this presentation is to highlight the opportunities for dVAD and present a case for facilitating dVAD in Australia. This will first include providing a background to dVAD internationally highlighting comparable existing dVAD services available, using them as a template for implementing a service in Australia. Next I will present the various clinical, logistical, and ethical considerations which may impact or impede its implantation in Australia such as conflict of interest between end-of-life care and organ donation, VAD ethical safeguards, conscientious objection, and the current political climate surrounding VAD. Finally I will present a case for adopting dVAD in Australia and provide several preliminary recommendations on how to best implement dVAD in Australia.
Biography:
Recent Deakin University MD graduate where I developed an interest in clinical ethics specifically ethical issues surrounding organ donation and VAD. Currently involved in medical student teaching at Deakin University with a novel lecture series on ethical issues for the junior doctor in addition to clinical responsibilities with Barwon Health.