Two Australian studies — the first to directly consult people living with dementia on the issue — have found overwhelming support among participants for access to voluntary assisted dying (VAD), a legal end-of-life option currently unavailable to them under Australian law. Interviewees described fears of losing dignity, suffering abuse in aged care, and being kept alive against their wishes, with many framing VAD access as a basic human right rather than a medical privilege. The researchers argue that people with dementia must be placed at the centre of future policy debates on the issue, noting that, unlike Australia, countries such as the Netherlands and Canada already permit VAD for some dementia patients under specific safeguards.