Ben White is Professor of End-of-Life Law and Regulation at QUT’s Australian Centre for Health Law Research. With over 200 publications and $45 million in research funding, his work focuses on voluntary assisted dying (VAD), law reform, and end-of-life decision-making. 

Ben discusses the slow road to VAD legalisation in Australia, the patchwork of state laws, and barriers to access – such as gag clauses for clinicians, telehealth restrictions, and institutional objections. 

He shares concerning findings that only 33% of Queenslanders know VAD is legal, and fewer than two-thirds of health professionals are aware. He emphasises the need to normalise VAD as part of end-of-life care, alongside palliative treatment and active care, to improve patient understanding and choice. 

Comprehensive information on Voluntary Assisted Dying in Your State is provided on the Go Gentle website  at https://www.gogentleaustralia.org.au/vad_in_your_state or by contacting your State Health Department. 

If listening to this podcast raises distressing issues for you, please contact one of the following support services: 
Griefline (https://griefline.org.au/) 1300 845 745 
Grief Australia (https://www.grief.org.au/) 1800 642 745 
Lifeline (https://www.lifeline.org.au/) 13 11 14, or chat online 24 hours a day