Voluntary assisted dying in South Australia

Voluntary assisted dying in South Australia

SA Health

2,915 views  Jan 31, 2023

Chair of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Implementation Taskforce, Dr Chris Moy, explains the voluntary assisted dying pathway in South Australia. 

For more information, resources and support services, visit www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/VAD

Transcript

0:05From 31 January 2023,
0:08the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act
0:10will be in place in South Australia.
0:12The introduction of safe, accessible,
0:14and compassionate voluntary assisted dying
0:17will give eligible people with a terminal illness
0:19choice at the end of life.
0:21The Act includes many safeguards to ensure
0:24only eligible people access voluntary assisted dying
0:27and protects vulnerable people
0:29from coercion, abuse, and exploitation.
0:33A person can only access voluntary assisted dying
0:36by being assessed as eligible
0:38by two registered and trained doctors.
0:41To assess voluntary assisted dying,
0:43a person must meet
0:45all of the following eligibility criteria.
0:48They must be an adult.
0:49They must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
0:52They must live in South Australia
0:54and at least for 12 months,
0:56they must have the capacity to make a decision
0:58about voluntary assisted dying.
1:00They must be acting freely and without coercion.

1:03They must be diagnosed with a disease, illness,
1:06or medical condition that is incurable,
1:08advanced, progressive, and will cause death.

1:11The disease, illness, or medical condition
1:13must be expected to cause death within six months
1:16or 12 months in the case of a neurodegenerative condition
1:20and the disease, illness, or medical condition
1:22must be causing the person suffering
1:25that cannot be relieved in a manner
1:27that they consider tolerable.

1:29It is important to remember that only the person
1:32who is considering voluntary assisted dying
1:33can start the conversation with a health practitioner.

1:36Under the legislation, health practitioners
1:39cannot initiate the discussion.

1:41The person accessing voluntary assisted dying
1:44will need to make three separate requests.
1:47The first request should be made to a medical practitioner.
1:50If they accept they become the coordinating
1:52medical practitioner.

1:54If a medical practitioner chooses not to participate,
1:57it's recommended that they advise the patient
2:00of where they can get more information or refer them
2:03to someone who can help.
2:04A consulting doctor will complete a second assessment
2:08before a second request can be made.
2:11The second request is a written request
2:13that is signed by two eligible witnesses.
2:16The final request will be made to the coordinating
2:19medical practitioner.
2:21The process can be stopped at any time
2:23and services are available to support people navigating
2:26the voluntary assisted dying process and their loved ones.
2:32If thinking about voluntary assisted dying has raised issues
2:34for you, there are supports available.
2:39For more information, visit the SA Health website.

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Transcript

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0:05

From 31 January 2023,

0:08

the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act

0:10

will be in place in South Australia.

0:12

The introduction of safe, accessible,

0:14

and compassionate voluntary assisted dying

0:17

will give eligible people with a terminal illness

0:19

choice at the end of life.

0:21

The Act includes many safeguards to ensure

0:24

only eligible people access voluntary assisted dying

0:27

and protects vulnerable people

0:29

from coercion, abuse, and exploitation.

0:33

A person can only access voluntary assisted dying

0:36

by being assessed as eligible

0:38

by two registered and trained doctors.

0:41

To assess voluntary assisted dying,

0:43

a person must meet

0:45

all of the following eligibility criteria.

0:48

They must be an adult.

0:49

They must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

0:52

They must live in South Australia

0:54

and at least for 12 months,

0:56

they must have the capacity to make a decision

0:58

about voluntary assisted dying.

1:00

They must be acting freely and without coercion.

1:03

They must be diagnosed with a disease, illness,

1:06

or medical condition that is incurable,

1:08

advanced, progressive, and will cause death.

1:11

The disease, illness, or medical condition

1:13

must be expected to cause death within six months

1:16

or 12 months in the case of a neurodegenerative condition

1:20

and the disease, illness, or medical condition

1:22

must be causing the person suffering

1:25

that cannot be relieved in a manner

1:27

that they consider tolerable.

1:29

It is important to remember that only the person

1:32

who is considering voluntary assisted dying

1:33

can start the conversation with a health practitioner.

1:36

Under the legislation, health practitioners

1:39

cannot initiate the discussion.

1:41

The person accessing voluntary assisted dying

1:44

will need to make three separate requests.

1:47

The first request should be made to a medical practitioner.

1:50

If they accept they become the coordinating

1:52

medical practitioner.

1:54

If a medical practitioner chooses not to participate,

1:57

it's recommended that they advise the patient

2:00

of where they can get more information or refer them

2:03

to someone who can help.

2:04

A consulting doctor will complete a second assessment

2:08

before a second request can be made.

2:11

The second request is a written request

2:13

that is signed by two eligible witnesses.

2:16

The final request will be made to the coordinating

2:19

medical practitioner.

2:21

The process can be stopped at any time

2:23

and services are available to support people navigating

2:26

the voluntary assisted dying process and their loved ones.

2:32

If thinking about voluntary assisted dying has raised issues

2:34

for you, there are supports available.

2:39

For more information, visit the SA Health website.