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Death bill amended, palliative care boost

Victoria's Labor government has conceded amendments to its controversial assisted dying bill to secure votes and announced more palliative care funding.

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Source: AAP


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CHANGES TO VICTORIA'S PROPOSED ASSISTED-DYING LAWS

* Life expectancy of less than six months, previously 12 months

* Neurodegenerative patients can access the scheme with a life expectancy of 12 months

* Must live in Victoria for at least 12 months

* Patients will be encouraged to tell their family doctor

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* Unused lethal medication must be returned within 15 days of death, halving the original time of one month

* Death certificates will have to record "voluntary assisted dying"

* The coroner must be notified of assisted dying deaths

PALLIATIVE CARE FUNDING

* $62 million over five years to improve end-of-life support and palliative care

FUNDING BREAKDOWN

* $19.5 million for specialist doctors and nurses to provide advice in regional areas

* $19.9 million for home-based palliative care across regional and rural Victoria

* $6.25 million to establish a 24-hour expert palliative care advice line

* $6.35 million from 2018-19 to support families of those who accessed the scheme

* $10 million one-off fund for charities of palliative care service delivery to support people's end-of-life choices and assist them to die at home

PALLIATIVE CARE REVIEW

* Examine the way palliative care is funded to address inequities

* Headed by Melbourne Health chairman Robert Doyle AC, deputy chair of St Vincent's Health Australia Patricia Faulkner and former Goulburn Valley Palliative Care chief executive Carmel Smith

Source: Victorian Government


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