We should all have the right to die on our own terms – current assisted-dying laws deny this to people with dementia

‘Where are the wishes of the patient in all this? Surely they – not their caregivers – should have the right to tick the VAD box while they are still of sound mind as part of their advance care directive.’ Photograph: Islandstock/Alamy

Voluntary assisted dying is now legal in all six states in Australia for eligible patients.

While conditions vary slightly between jurisdictions, eligible patients must be acting voluntarily, have decision-making capacity and have a terminal medical illness likely to cause death within six months – or 12 months in the case of neurodegenerative conditions.