Table 2 Characteristics of patients whose voluntary assisted dying experience was the subject of interviews (total sample and institutional objection study sample)
Characteristic | Total sample (n = 28): number (%) | Institutional objection study sample (n = 17): number (%) |
|---|---|---|
Age (years) | Mean 70.8 | Mean 73.2 |
20–29 | 1 (4%) | 0 (0%) |
30–39 | 1 (4%) | 1 (6%) |
40–49 | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
50–59 | 3 (11%) | 1 (6%) |
60–69 | 7 (25%) | 4 (24%) |
70–79 | 8 (29%) | 5 (29%) |
80–89 | 6 (21%) | 5 (29%) |
90–99 | 2 (7%) | 1 (6%) |
Sex | ||
Female | 13 (46%) | 7 (41%) |
Male | 15 (54%) | 10 (59%) |
Location | ||
Metropolitan | 16 (57%) | 13 (76%) |
Regional | 12* (43%) | 4 (24%) |
Highest level of education | ||
Some high school | 7 (25%) | 6 (35%) |
High school | 9 (32%) | 4 (24%) |
University–diploma | 1 (4%) | 0 (0%) |
University–undergraduate | 7 (25%) | 4 (24%) |
University–postgraduate (including graduate diploma) | 4 (14%) | 3 (18%) |
Primary disease, illness, or medical condition | ||
Cancer | 18 (64%) | 10 (59%) |
Neurological | 9 (32%) | 6 (35%) |
Other | 1 (4%) | 1 (6%) |
Eligibility for voluntary assisted dying and death | ||
|---|---|---|
Assessed as eligible | 24 (86%) | 16 (94%) |
Patient died via self-administered medication | 19 (68%) | 12 (71%) |
Patient died via practitioner administered medication | 3 (11%) | 3 (18%) |
Patient died but did not take medication (natural death) | 1 (4%) | 1 (6%) |
Patient waiting to take medication | 1 (4%) | 0 (0%) |
Patient died prior to eligibility assessment completed | 3 (11%) | 1 (6%) |
Patient assessed as ineligible and died | 1 (4%) | 0 (0%) |
Timing of voluntary assisted death (or engagement with process) | ||
|---|---|---|
July–December 2019 | 4 (14%) | 2 (12%) |
January–June 2020 | 6 (21%) | 4 (24%) |
July–December 2020 | 3 (11%) | 1 (6%) |
January–June 2021 | 10 (36%) | 6 (35%) |
July–November 2021 | 5 (18%) | 4 (24%) |