Mel Turner has been the inaugural Presiding Member of the SA VAD Review Board.
Mel is now South Australia’s Chief Psychiatrist, having been the Deputy Chief Psychiatrist since 2020.
South Australia is fortunate that our VAD system has been managed under the inspiring leadership of Mel Turner since its commencement in January 2023, with Mel appointed to the role in the year before commencement.
We know it has been a difficult task, given the high profile of the VAD debate and the significance of the reform to finally allow people the choice of assisted dying in South Australia.
Mel undertook the leadership role with her trademark compassion, strength, knowledge and dignity.
We feel fortunate that under Mel’s leadership and guidance South Australia has established a safe and reliable base for this end of life choice into the future.
Associate Professor Turner contributes to our community in multiple ways – as a practicing child and adolescent Psychiatrist, teaching medical students and registrars at Adelaide University and as Chair of the Medical Board of South Australia and a member of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.
In her final weeks, the SA VAD Review Board published its 11th Quarterly Report, a transparency feature enjoyed only in SA.
Key outcomes noted in the three months include
- 216 VAD assessments were completed, 115 first assessments and 101 consulting (second) assessments
- 19 people were assessed as ineligible for VAD, 13 on the first assessment and six in the second assessment
- 88 VAD Permits were issued, 72 for self administration and 16 for practitioner administration
- 81 people with a VAD Permit died, 49 through self administration, nine by practitioner administration and 23 people died without using the VAD substance
- VAD deaths were 1.5% of all deaths
- the median age was 75 years, with a range of 45 to 97
- 80% of people were receiving palliative care
- 73% had cancer and 10% had a neurodegenerative disease
- three more doctors completed the VAD training, a total of 86 in SA
- the median days from first request to VAD Permit was 18, with a range of 4 to 125 days
- the median days from receiving a VAD Permit to death using the VAD substance was 11, with a range of 0 to 520.
We wish Mel Turner success in her new role and thank her for her exceptional guidance of VAD in the crucial first four years.