Woman becomes first Victorian to end her life under assisted dying laws
The first person to receive a permit under Victoria’s new Voluntary Assisted Dying Act and see the process through to its end has died.
Kerry Robertson died on July 15 aged 61 in a Bendigo nursing home following a lengthy battle with breast cancer.
Go Gentle Australia said she chose to take the medication on the day it was dispersed to her. She died peacefully 15 minutes after taking it.
Ms Robertson is survived by her daughters, Jacqui and Nicole, and her son who watched as their mother stopped all treatment in March this year.
Her cancer had spread to her liver, with the side effects of this significantly damaging her quality of life, according to daughter Nicole.
“In May, she was admitted to hospice. She suffered with pain, nausea and vomiting (she wasn’t able to keep much food down) and had lost the ability to walk unaided,” Nicole wrote on Go Gentle’s website.
“Her pain medications were adjusted again with no relief. In June, she moved into a nursing home and began to decline rapidly. She lost the majority of her vision and needed assistance with all daily living tasks.”
Nicole recalled how her mother demanded they focus on “life” rather than the nitty gritty of her illness.
“The day the Voluntary Assisted Dying law came into effect in Victoria, Mum made her first verbal request for help to end her life and the initial assessment was completed,” the daughter said.
“Two weeks later she made her second verbal request with her consulting doctor.”
Nicole said on July 7 her mother made a third verbal request and a written request, and two days later she was granted a voluntary assisted dying permit.
“She was determined that it wouldn’t be the cancer that killed her,” Nicole said.
“She was tired, the pain was intolerable and there was no quality of life left for her.”
Nicole described her mother as “brave”, convinced that her mantra “feel the fear then do it anyway” would be the lasting legacy she left behind.
“We were so relieved to know that Mum would be able to have the empowered death that she wanted,” she wrote.
“We were beside her, David Bowie playing in the background, surrounded by love, with final words spoken, simple and dignified.”
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