An incredibly brave courageous woman, Kerry Robertson has become the first person to successfully use Victoria’s voluntary assisted dying law.
The Herald Sun Digital Edition: New law used to end life
Kerry Robertson, 61, died at a Bendigo nursing home on July 15, 2019 surrounded by her daughters, following a decade long battle with cancer.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, which later metastasized in her bones.
She was the first person in the state to be granted a permit to end her life following a rigorous application process. The law came into effect on June 19, and is only an option for adults who can make decisions and who have an illness likely to cause death imminently.
Ms Robertson’s daughter, Jacqui Hicks, told Seven News her mum’s suffering was unbearable . “She did have tumours in her brain, in the lung of course, and it did spread to her liver as well,” she said.
“( The pain) could not be managed with any combination of medication.”
Another daughter, Nicole Robertson, said her mum was “absolutely ready” to end her suffering, and took the lethal mixture on the same day it was delivered by state pharmacists.
“The terminal diagnosis was far harder than her decision to have a voluntary assisted death,” she said.
“I think one of the most important and special parts of this was that mum was able to plan her death … she looked incredibly peaceful.”
