First known Aboriginal voluntary assisted dying (VAD) patient Mary-Ellen Passmore dies in Perth hospital

Mary-Ellen Passmore has always done things on her own terms. When it came time to die, she knew what she wanted. A last meal of seafood chowder, the soothing sounds of Hallelujah, her family, including her children Chontall and Challan Edwards and Charleton Skelly by her side. At 1.11pm yesterday, aged 63, in a Perth hospital, Ms Passmore ended her life as she wished – just the second West Australian to use the State’s voluntary assisted dying legislation, which came into effect at the start of the month. Speaking to The West 24 hours before her death, the Wongi-Yamatji woman said she was “eternally thankful” for the law change. “I feel very honoured to choose when and where I can die,” she said. “I am excited because I won’t have to suffer any more. This is the way I have chosen to die and I hope all the people that suffer with constant pain will think about this VAD.” Ms Passmore was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2015. MND is a progressive condition which attacks nerve cells, gradually robbing sufferers of the ability to move, speak, swallow and breathe. There is no cure. Ms Passmore lost her independence. She couldn’t drive, couldn’t bathe and had little movement of her arms. She spent her final days bedridden. “It’s terrifying, being trapped by your body,” she said. “I’m fed up with the pain, I’m fed up with the suffering.” Ms Passmore grew up in Three Springs, a small Mid West town 300km north of Perth. She was the eldest of seven and spent a career in the public service working in education and mental health. She served as treasurer of the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care. She chose to share the story of her life and death with The West Australian to break down taboos surrounding voluntary assisted dying. “I feel at peace within myself and the love of my children and they are saying ‘yes mum, you have had enough’ and I love my children for allowing me to do this,” she said. In a written statement issued to The West, her family paid tribute to the campaigners, doctors and politicians who worked to legislate VAD. “We would especially like to acknowledge and give our loving thanks to those who did not get to have the choice, and those who love them, for sharing their hearts and stories to help bring about this reform,” it read. Her death came the day after the first West Australian ended their life through VAD, which Premier Mark McGowan called an “historic moment” for WA. “We passed these laws so terminally ill West Australians, who are suffering, could have the compassionate choice to end their lives with dignity,” he said.