If voluntary assisted dying is available to those with physical disorder, it should also be available to those with severe mental disorder – an opinion

Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) is now available in many countries around the world and the indications are that this option will soon extend into other countries. Some countries are permissive and allow VAD for most of those who argue that their life is not worth living. In other countries, such as the USA and Australia, eligibility criteria include that the individuals must be suffering a medical disorder and have a life expectation of less than six months. We argue that this discriminates against people with severe mental disorders who also find life not worth living. Throughout time suicide has been available and utilized by those facing painful, intolerable predicaments. Intractable mental disorder is painful and unalterable (given existing treatments. We argue people with chronic mental disorder suffering should not be discriminated against, and where VAD is available, it should be available to all types of suffering patient.