This week marks the first anniversary of Voluntary Assisted Dying commencing in South Australia, providing eligible members of the community greater choice at the end of their life.
This is a significant milestone for those personally affected as well as those who have worked on and campaigned for years for the introduction of voluntary assisted dying in SA.
In its first year of operation in SA, between 31 January 2023 and 30 January 2024, 195 people were issued with a VAD permit by the Department for Health and Wellbeing. Of those, 140 people died including 110 from administration of the VAD substance.
Of those who have applied for VAD in SA since its introduction:
- 75% were aged 65 years and over
- 53% were male and 47% were female
- 77% were receiving palliative care
- 68% were from metropolitan Adelaide and 32% were from regional SA
There has been a positive uptake in the number of medical practitioners undertaking the mandatory training, with 121 doctors registered to undertake mandatory practitioner training and 73 having completed the training, making them eligible to support access to VAD in SA.
Trained medical practitioners can be found across both metropolitan and regional areas, with 73 per cent in metro Adelaide and 27 per cent in regional South Australia.
The laws include many safeguards to ensure only eligible people can access VAD and protect vulnerable people from coercion, abuse, and exploitation.
VAD is available for people who meet strict criteria, including having an incurable, advanced and progressive disease, illness, or medical condition expected to cause death within 6 months (or 12 months for a neurodegenerative condition), and that is causing suffering to the person that cannot be relieved in a tolerable manner.
More information can be found on the SA Health website.
Quotes
Attributable to Chris Picton
Introducing voluntary assisted dying in South Australia was an important milestone and I am pleased that the laws have been working so well over the past 12 months.
VAD provides peace of mind to South Australians and their families and gives greater choice at the end of their life.
Our thanks go to the dedicated clinicians, staff and volunteers who continue to support patients to access the VAD pathway with care and compassion.
I encourage those wanting to learn more about the VAD pathway to speak with their health professionals.
Attributable to Kyam Maher
VAD has finally become a key part of the end-of-life journeys for many South Australians, after 16 previous attempts spanning 27 years to pass legislation.
This one year anniversary is a significant milestone, particularly for those who dedicated years of advocacy and hard work to getting VAD into operation.
Thanks to their efforts, VAD will continue to benefit many South Australians and their families and give South Australians the choice and comfort of dying with dignity.
Attributable to Melanie Turner, Presiding Member of the VAD Review Board
This is a significant milestone for those impacted by VAD in the community, whether it be through a family connection or as a clinician assisting those following the VAD pathway.
I would like to acknowledge all of those integral to this legislation in South Australia and those who have worked tirelessly throughout its implementation – this does not go unnoticed.
I continue to encourage those doctors interested in undertaking practitioner training to find out more and start their journey via the SA Health website.
* Data provided is indicative to 30 January 2024. This data may be updated in future reporting-based VAD activity for this period that is captured after this date.
