What rare disease did Annaliese Holland have?

Annaliese Holland had autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy, a rare neurological disease.

How does assisted dying work in Australia?

In Australia, patients must be permanent residents with a terminal condition, undergo assessments by two doctors, and be mentally competent to approve assisted dying.

What are the symptoms of autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy?

Symptoms include chronic pain, nausea, vomiting, and disruptions to heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion due to nerve damage.

Home / Health / Woman, 25, Chooses Medical Aid Amid Rare Disease Battle

Woman, 25, Chooses Medical Aid Amid Rare Disease Battle

20 Nov

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Summary

Annaliese Holland, 25, chose medical aid due to a rare terminal neurological disease.
She suffered debilitating pain and multi-organ failure for years.
Approved for Voluntary Assisted Dying, she found relief from suffering.

Woman, 25, Chooses Medical Aid Amid Rare Disease Battle

Annaliese Holland, a 25-year-old from Adelaide, South Australia, has made the profound decision to end her life with medical assistance. She had been living with a rare and terminal neurological disease since childhood, experiencing debilitating pain, frequent hospital stays, and reliance on an IV feeding tube for a decade.

The condition, autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy, was diagnosed when she turned 18. It affects the nerves controlling vital bodily functions, leading to severe gastrointestinal issues, multi-organ failure, and numerous sepsis episodes. Despite enduring chronic pain and the limitations it imposed on her life, Holland found a sense of peace in her choice.

After a rigorous three-week evaluation, Holland was approved for Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD). She views this choice not as giving up, but as a brave decision to stop enduring constant suffering and to die on her own terms, finding relief from the daily anxiety of pain and illness.