Exclusive: Review found some of the safeguards of state’s once groundbreaking laws have impeded access to end-of-life choices

• Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

For Nick Carr, one of the hardest things to witness as a doctor is terminally ill patients in unbearable pain and knowing there is an option to end their suffering – but not being able to speak of it.

“There’s been times where I’ve been sitting there, having to sit on my hands, having to shut my mouth because I want to say to them, ‘Do you know there is the option of voluntary assisted dying?’ and I can’t,” Carr says.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email