A spokesperson from SA Health told InDaily that as of this month, 32 medical practitioners were undergoing mandatory training on how to abide by the requirements of the Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) Act which will take effect on January 31.

The legislation will allow South Australians with a diagnosed incurable illness to voluntarily access and self-administer a medication that will cause their death.

SA Health said a “VAD liaison nurse” had been appointed in each of the three metropolitan local health networks, with a further position to be recruited for regional South Australia.

An interim nursing director would oversee four nursing and allied health professionals who will work on a rotational part-time basis to act as “care navigators”, helping patients and their families to work through and understand the legislated requirements.

The government estimates approximately 140 South Australians will access voluntary assisted dying in the first year of operation, with that figure modelled on data from Victoria and Western Australia, which have already implemented VAD laws.

“We are pleased with the progress to date on the implementation of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2021,” the SA Health spokesperson said.

“It is expected a sufficient number of medical practitioners will be trained by 31 January next year, with this cohort of doctors and clinicians increasing over time once Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) commences.”

The Voluntary Assisted Dying Act passed state parliament in a historic vote in June 2021 after 26 years of parliamentary debate on the matter, but it has taken the government 18 months to ensure the state’s health system is prepared to abide by the strict requirements set out in the legislation.

Advocates from Voluntary Assisted Dying South Australia had lobbied the government to implement the law sooner to prevent people “suffering over the Christmas period”.

Health Minister Chris Picton previously said that if possible, the government would bring forward the implementation date, but a SA Health spokesperson told InDaily that the state’s implementation taskforce had recommended this month that the implementation “remain on track to commence on 31 January 2023”.

According to SA Health, voluntary assisted dying can only be accessed by a person who is in the late stages of an incurable, advanced and progressive disease, illness or medical condition and experiencing “intolerable suffering”.

Patients must be the first to initiate a discussion with their doctor. A request cannot be made on somebody else’s behalf by a family member, friend or carer, and at no time is a doctor allowed to initiate a conversation or discussion with a patient, as doing so could be considered coercion.

Once a patient voices their desire to access voluntary assisted dying, they must be assessed by a qualified doctor, who will determine if they abide by the 70 safeguards set out in the legislation to prevent coercion or wrongful death.

If they are deemed eligible, a second doctor must conduct another assessment.

The doctors must ensure their patient is making a “fully-informed decision” and is aware of the palliative care options also available to them.

If the patient wants to proceed with voluntary assisted dying, they will need to make a written declaration that is witnessed by two independent individuals, confirming that they are making an “informed, voluntary and enduring decision”.

On receiving that final request, the doctor will then apply for a self-administration permit to prescribe a substance that the person may use to end their life at a time of their choosing.

The patient is required to administer the substance themselves, unless they are physically unable to do so, in which case their doctor may apply for a practitioner administration permit.

Doctors can refuse to participate in the voluntary assisted dying process if they have a conscientious objection to doing so.

A voluntary assisted dying pharmacy service is being set up at the Repat Health Precinct at Daw Park to safely supply medication to eligible patients.