Reclaiming Autonomy and Control: Themes From Public Narratives Advocating for Voluntary Assisted Dying in Australia

Existing research on assisted dying has examined legal frameworks, public attitudes, and clinical implementation. Less attention has been paid to how advocates construct its meaning. Using template analysis, 345 publicly available narratives from Australian advocacy websites were analyzed to examine how advocates conceptualize the purpose and value of assisted dying in end-of-life decision-making. Five interrelated themes were identified: (1) reclaiming autonomy, choice, and control; (2) alleviating pain and suffering; (3) preserving dignity; (4) minimizing secondary impacts on others; and (5) addressing objections to voluntary assisted dying. Across narratives, suffering was framed not only as physical pain but as an existential threat to selfhood, identity, dignity, and agency. This study contributes an interpretive account of how Australian VAD advocacy narratives construct its meaning and purpose in relation to suffering, autonomy, dignity, and personhood.