Sharp rise in voluntary assisted dying permits issued and used

There’s been a sharp rise in the number of people choosing to end their lives using Voluntary Assisted Dying permits, including 23-year-old Lily Thai.

Forty Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) permits were issued in the two months to June 30, a sharp increase on the 28 issued in the previous three months which officials say is due to growing awareness of the option and trust in the system.

Of these, 32 people have ended their life, aged from their 20s to their 90s — 19 people had terminal cancer, and five had degenerative neurological conditions.

The Voluntary Assisted Dying Board’s report acknowledged recent stories in the Sunday Mail and The Advertiser of a young woman who chose to share her journey about accessing voluntary assisted dying with the community.

In June terminally ill Lily Thai, 23, used the VAD laws to end her life, passing away peacefully at Laurel Hospice in the Flinders Medical Centre.

Lily Thai, 23, at Laurel Hospice with friend Annaliease Holland shortly before her death. Picture: Supplied

Lily Thai in June 2017.

Inspirational Lily captured the hearts and minds of South Australians after sharing her story with the Sunday Mail.

“This story shed light on the importance of choice at end of life and prompted a valuable public conversation about voluntary assisted dying in South Australia,” board presiding member Associate Professor Melanie Turner said.

The latest report shows 19 people self-administered medication, and eight were supported by a medical practitioner. Five people died without using the medication available.

The latest report is called a quarterly report despite being for just two months, to bring future quarterly reports into alignment with standard quarterly reporting time frames.

The latest reporting period saw 40 per cent of people with a permit dying in regional South Australia, which officials say shows a commitment to equitable end-of life-care choices across the state.

An age breakdown of the deaths shows there were three people in their 90s, 10 in their 80s, seven each in their 70s and 60s, three in their 50s, 1 in their 30s and one in their 20s.

There are 66 medical practitioners who have completed the mandatory training, with a further 46 registered or part-way through.

Of these, 49 are in metropolitan Adelaide and 17 in regional South Australia.

Officials say the program continues to receive positive feedback from participants and their families, specifically concerning the support and care provided to those applying for VAD permits.

Prof Turner said the growth in permits reflected trust in the new system.

Presiding member of the VAD review board Associate Professor Melanie Turner. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

“As we move later in this first year of VAD, we see evidence in this report of the increase in the number of people accessing VAD over the last two months, likely reflecting the growing awareness of VAD as one end-of-life option, as well as the trust in our VAD pathway,” she said.

“We extend our gratitude to those who have played an instrumental role in the operation of VAD in South Australia, and our sincere condolences to those who are grieving for their loved ones.”

Of the 32 people who died between May 1 and June 30, 18 were female and 14 were male, 21 were receiving palliative care, and 13 died at home, 15 in a hospital and four in a residential aged care facility.