Bernadette Freeth is dying of brain cancer but still can’t use SA’s VAD laws

The Murray Bridge woman’s son says she’s terrified her condition will rob her of the ability to choose her own time while pleas to the government go unanswered.

Bernadette Freeth wants to die.

The 62-year-old grandmother lives in Murray Bridge Soldier’s Memorial Hospital, needing 24-hour care and exists with terminal brain cancer.

She can’t eat, wash or toilet herself. Seizures and angina attacks are common.

“She’s dead already,” her son Paul Freeth told The Advertiser.

But Ms Freeth is unable to end her life in the way she wants.

She must wait for death in excruciating pain unable to access voluntary assisted dying.

“Unfortunately she doesn’t qualify because she doesn’t have a life expectancy under six months,” Paul said.

“I get angry because it’s not fair to watch someone go through that.”

Now 43-year-old Paul is calling for the government to take action and provide his mum with the relief she is desperately craving.

Bernadette Freeth before she was diagnosed with brain cancer. Picture: supplied

Bernadette Freeth after she was diagnosed with brain cancer. Picture: supplied

Doctors are not sure how long Ms Freeth has left.

Paul said that is apart of the problem and his mum’s limited life has become a waiting game.

Only a few weeks ago Ms Freeth was sitting at home with her husband of 42-years Noel, Paul’s father, when she suddenly stopped breathing.

Around a minute passed without a single breath.

“He said he was just sitting there quietly … he didn’t say a word,” Paul said.

“He said ‘I’m not gonna pull her on the floor and start giving her CPR, I’m not going to call for help. She stopped breathing. She doesn’t want to be resuscitated so no point calling’.

“He said in the back of his mind he was thinking – I really hope that was the last one.”

Then Ms Freeth suddenly woke up and drew in a breath.

“That is not something a husband should have to go through,” Paul said.

Paul Freeth on Friday. Picture: The Advertiser/ Morgan Sette

Diagnosed in 2022 with brain cancer Ms Freeth underwent two brain surgeries and chemotherapy, but the tumour continued to grow.

She worked as a nurse for over 20 years and said she would put up a fight initially but ultimately would want to undergo VAD.

“She’s not living life anymore. She’s just breathing,” Paul said.

“She’s obviously incapacitated, needs constant help, constant care … and is in constant pain.

“She’s got the added stress about the fact she can’t enact a right to VAD because she’s waiting on some technicality.”

Being denied access to the life-ending means left Ms Freeth feeling “ripped off”.

“She’s angry … she was a bit upset about it,” Paul said.

She also terrified she is one seizure away from becoming mentally unable to choose to undertake VAD as per the legislation.

Paul, who lives in Gladstone, contacted the Health Minister Chris Picton for help earlier this month.

He is asking for an exemption for his mum on compassionate grounds – an answer he is still waiting for.

When Ms Freeth eventually passes, Paul has plans to lobby the government to change the legislation to account for exemptions.

“You can be diagnosed with a terminal disease that 100 per cent will kill you eventually but there is a certain amount of treatment and pain and suffering and trauma you need to put your family and loved ones through before you can enact VAD just because you’ve got to get that life expectancy under the guidelines,” he said.

Health and Wellbeing Minister Chris Picton said offered his deepest sympathies to Bernadette and her loved ones but said laws passed by parliament contained 70 safeguards and did not allow politicians to overrule doctors’ decisions.

“Under the law, to be eligible for VAD, patients must be assessed by both two doctors as meeting all the criteria,” Mr Picton said.

“The Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board independently reviews each application and will provide ongoing advice regarding the performance of the legislation and any areas of reform required for Parliament to consider in the future.

“I will ensure that the feedback from Paul about the law and its safeguards is considered by the VAD Review Board.”