The sixth quarterly report from the VAD Review Board in South Australia has a focus on palliative care and the relationship between VAD and palliative care. Data show that around 80% of people requesting VAD are in a palliative care service, similar to the experience with assisted dying around the world.
Presiding Member, Assoc Prof Melanie Turner explains that
Voluntary assisted dying provides an additional end of life choice for eligible people. For people accessing voluntary assisted dying, palliative care can continue to actively support them with their symptom management and psychosocial care.
Palliative Care Connect was established in late 2023 in SA to connect people with life-limiting illnesses and their family, friends, and carers, as well as health and aged care professionals. The aim is to facilitate informed decisions by people about the broad range of palliative care services available.
To talk to someone about palliative care and bereavement supports:
Call 1800 725 548 (PALLI8)
Monday to Friday
8.30am to 4.00pm
or Email [email protected] or request a call back via the online form.
During the April to June quarter
- 79 VAD Permits were issued
- 92% of VAD Permits were for self administration
- 20 days elapsed between the first request and the issue of the VAD Permit
During the quarter
- 66 people who had a VAD Permit died, 56% through self administration, 8% after practitioner administration and 36% without administration of the VAD substance
- 86% of people had cancer
- 8% had a neurodegenerative disease
- 93% were over 60 years of age
- 62% were male
- 64% lived in metropolitan Adelaide
- 56% died in a private residence, 35% in a public hospital, 6% in residential aged care, 3% in a hospice
Since commencement of VAD in South Australia in January 2023, 75 medical practitioners have completed the VAD training and are able to undertake VAD assessments. A total of 129 medical practitioners have registered to complete the VAD training, with 60% being GPs. Around 75% of medical practitioners who have registered and who have completed the VAD training live in metropolitan Adelaide, which is consistent with the population distribution.
Read sixth quarterly report here.
