Doctors helping terminally ill patients to end their lives are warning a chronic shortage of oncologists and neurologists risks undermining Victoria’s voluntary assisted dying scheme.

Since the laws came into effect last year, 175 doctors including more than 85 GPs, have undergone training and are now registered to provide voluntary euthanasia support.

But the mushrooming number of patients threatens to overwhelm the small group of non GP-specialists who say they’re already overstretched.

“If I got hit by a car tomorrow, the system would fall over on its head immediately,” Melbourne oncologist Dr Cam McLaren told Australian Doctor.