Foreword from the Presiding Member (Voluntary Assisted Dying Board Annual Report 2023-24)
To the South Australian community
It is an honour to present this second Annual Report of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board of South Australia which describes the first full year of voluntary assisted dying activity in South Australia.
This has been a busy year for our voluntary assisted dying services and therefore also for the Review Board. Information presented in this report shows a continued upward trend in voluntary assisted dying activity some 18 months since the commencement of the Act on 31 January 2023. This pattern is in keeping with activity reported by other jurisdictions and is not unexpected at this early stage.
In the last 12 months, the Review Board have undertaken a detailed review of over 300 individual voluntary assisted dying pathways for compliance with the Act. I am pleased to note that this has revealed a very high degree of compliance with the Act, and where a non-compliance has been detected this has been of a technical or administrative nature and has not posed any risk to patients or the community. This activity also provides the Board with the opportunity to identify potential improvements to the voluntary assisted dying pathway that will be considered in the review of the operation of the Act that will occur prior to January 2028.
In November 2023, the Voluntary Assisted Dying Program was awarded the Premiers Award for Excellence in Health at the SA Health Awards. This award recognised the exceptional work of the many doctors, nurses, allied health staff, pharmacists, departmental staff and community organisations including Voluntary Assisted Dying South Australia (VADSA) who have come together to introduce safe, accessible and compassionate voluntary assisted dying in South Australia.
In April 2024 the Review Board hosted the first annual Voluntary Assisted Dying Day of Reflection at the Repat Health Precinct. The event was opened by the Minister for Health and Wellbeing and was attended by over 100 guests including family and friends of those who died on the voluntary assisted dying pathway in 2023 and some of the clinicians and staff who supported them. This annual event will continue to provide an opportunity for families, friends and loved ones and those involved in voluntary assisted dying to come together in reflection.
This year I also received feedback from the community regarding voluntary assisted dying, including feedback about prisoners accessing the voluntary assisted dying pathway. The Act is applicable to all South Australians and therefore does not prevent prisoners who meet the eligibility criteria and complete the voluntary assisted dying pathway from accessing voluntary assisted dying. The Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board are aware that access for prisoners is of interest to the community and we will consider this as part of the review of the operation of the Act that will occur prior to January 2028.
I was pleased to attend the launch of the State of VAD, Voluntary Assisted Dying in Australia and New Zealand Report 2024 by Go Gentle at Parliament House in Canberra on 12 August 2024. The report highlights barriers to access that have been experienced in SA as well as interstate that will continue to be a focus of our work, notably including the Commonwealth Criminal Code Carriage Laws that prohibit the use of telehealth for certain steps on the voluntary assisted dying pathway. We continue to advocate for reform to this law. The report also provided the first national voluntary assisted dying data set which will continue to evolve as states and territories data sets become more comparable.
Acknowledgments
The members of the Review Board would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to all of the doctors, clinicians and staff involved in providing voluntary assisted dying services in South Australia. Your dedication, expertise, and compassion are essential, and feedback received from patients and families reflects the high level of care you provide and reflects not only your professional commitment but also your profound respect for patient autonomy and dignity.
We recognise the challenges you sometimes face and appreciate the tireless work you put into maintaining the highest standards of care. Thank you for your invaluable contributions to this important aspect of healthcare, and for making a meaningful difference in the lives of those you serve.
I also thank the leadership and members of VADSA for your continued advocacy and provision of information and supports to the community. I particularly thank you for your work in establishing the helpful volunteer witnessing program. Thanks also go to the Justices of the Peace who have performed the role of witness in support of patients on the voluntary assisted dying pathway.
On behalf of the Review Board, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of those who have chosen voluntary assisted dying. The loss of a loved one is a deeply personal time, and your feelings of loss and grief are recognised. I trust you will find comfort in cherished memories and the love and support of those around you.
Associate Professor, Melanie Turner
Presiding Member, Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board