Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has accepted all of the recommendations of an independent investigation into proposed legislation on assisted dying and, after a lengthy parliamentary debate, said he hoped the matter would be decided by the end of 2017.

Mr Andrews said regardless of what an individuals' view was on end of life choices, it was time to "get out of the way" of those who wanted a more dignified end to their lives.

Victorians suffering with an advanced and incurable illness, disease or medical condition would be able to seek a medically assisted death from 2019, under a model to be considered by the Victorian Parliament.

An expert panel, chaired by former AMA president Brian Owler, made 66 recommendations to set up a scheme under which a person must be of "sound decision-making capacity" and the condition they are suffering from must be expected to cause death within 12 months.

That condition must be found to be "causing suffering that cannot be relieved in a manner that is tolerable to the person".

Only the patient can initiate a request for assisted dying, and the person must be assessed by two doctors, one which must be an expert in the person's particular illness.

Mr Andrews said the Government accepted the "totality of the report", saying the recommendations were sound and "the right way to go."

He acknowledged assisted dying was a controversial and difficult issue for all Victorians.

"Everyone has different views. Everyone has their own unique perspective on these issues," he told ABC Melbourne.

"The time has come to make some profound change and to no longer deny to those who want a more dignified end to their life, or at least want to know that that option is available to them.

"The time has come to stop denying them that."

Personal view on euthanasia 'not the point'

Mr Andrews noted the proposed model was very conservative and included 68 safeguards.

He hoped to introduce legislation to Parliament soon.

He said the debate in Parliament would be a lengthy one and he hoped to have an answer before the end of this year.

Each member would be able to "vote their own conscience", Mr Andrews said, acknowledging that his own views on the matter had changed since the death of his father.

"I've come to the conclusion that whether you would avail yourself of this option isn't really the point," he said.

"If the right safeguards are in place, then the question becomes do we have the right to stop others from accessing a safe — and on some measures a very conservative — scheme?

"My answer to that is we should get out of the way for those who can, in a safe framework, and should be able to access a more dignified end."

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said MPs needed to make sure debate around the issue was respectful and mature.

"I don't think politicians are the right people to decide when someone can and under what circumstances you should end your life. That should be a discussion between a person, or their family, and a doctor," he said.

"But I respect many others have a different point of view.

"This is one where no side has a mortgage on compassion and all Victorians, many of us, have a different point of view and now it's time to respect those points of view, put this motion through Parliament, have the debate and get on with it."

One of the concerns from many MPs, and the wider community, was that the system could be open to abuse.

The panel has moved to assuage these concerns by recommending new criminal offences for anyone who induces someone to request or self-administer assisted death.

A new charge will also be created for people administering a lethal dose to a person who does not have decision-making capacity.

Doctors will be able to conscientiously object to any aspect of the process.

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