The member for Bayswater, in Melbourne's east, said she felt abstaining was her only course of action as the feedback from her electorate was "50-50" on the issue.

"I couldn't in all fairness say I was representing my electorate voting one way or another because I had very even representation," Ms Victoria said after the sitting.

"If I'm supposed to represent my electorate, how can I when there was no clear path that I can follow?"

Speaking in parliament during marathon 26-hour sitting about the response from voters she represents, she said: "Many emails were articulate and well thought out.

"Some were abusive and even threatening, and although I will never understand anyone thinking they have the right to abuse a public official just because of the work we do, I note their passion."

Speaking after the sitting, she said: "The threats have been unbelievable".

They ranged from threats to have her sacked to those that were more personal, warning her to "look over her shoulder".

Asked whether she had ever received such warnings at any other time in her political career, Ms Victoria told Fairfax Media she had during the debate over the decriminalisation of abortion, which she voted against, in 2008.

"It was [during] the abortion debate," Ms Victoria said. "Any of these conscience votes, it brings out the worst in some people. It brings out the best as well."

Ms Victoria, the shadow minister for tourism and major events, arts and culture and consumer affairs, said after seeing how divided the medical community was about the issue, she decided could not vote for or against it.

"There are as many people in there for it as against," she said of doctors and allied health professionals. "I thought, 'You're no help, you're equally as passionate but divided."

She described as "arrogant" the Labor government's refusal to accept any amendments to the bill, particularly in reference to assessment of a patient's mental capacity, and there being no requirement to remove the substance to be used in a case of assisted dying.

"If the government had been a little more open I think they would have had a better reception ... I think it's arrogant. It's supposed to be a democracy, but democracy didn't happen."

Brighton Liberal MP Louise Asher was also recorded of having abstained. She voted in favour of the legislation during the second reading but was not in parliament for the third and final reading.

Therefore her vote was not registered on the parliamentary record.