‘On his own terms’: James Valentine chose assisted dying but barriers remain for Australians wanting to access it

Applications for voluntary assisted dying are rising but Australia is the only nation that prevents the use of telehealth during the process Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast When the beloved broadcaster and saxophonist James Valentine died this week it was on his terms – he was at home, surrounded by his family, after making the choice to use voluntary assisted dying (VAD). “Throughout his illness, James did it his way, which lasted all the way until the end,” his wife, Joanne, and two children, Ruby and Roy, said in a statement. “Both he and his family are grateful he was given the option to go out on his own terms.” As tributes flow for Valentine, advocates for VAD hope his loss will encourage the federal government to address structural barriers to accessing the end-of-life care that are preventing some Australians from doing the same. Every Australian jurisdiction excluding the Northern Territory has legalised VAD, which represents about 2% of all deaths, or 5% of cancer deaths. The NT government has committed to draft and debate a VAD law, with no timetable in place. But while VAD appli