Annaliese Holland

Annaliese Holland, a 25-year-old from Adelaide, Australia, has garnered attention for being granted voluntary assisted dying (VAD) after a decade of suffering from a rare autoimmune disorder that has severely impacted her quality of life. Diagnosed with Autoimmune Autonomic Ganglionopathy at 18, Holland has endured numerous medical challenges, including 25 bloodstream infections and multiple spinal fractures. After completing a rigorous three-week medical and psychological evaluation process, she views the approval for VAD as a 'safety blanket,' asserting that it is not an act of giving up but a decision to end her suffering when her body can no longer endure. Her case has sparked discussions on the ethics of assisted dying and patient autonomy in end-of-life care.