At least six terminally ill South Australians have ended their lives using voluntary assisted dying since new laws came into effect seven weeks ago.
Laws allowing voluntary assisted dying (VAD) passed the South Australian parliament in 2021, after years of campaigning by advocates and 17 failed attempts with the legislation coming into effect on January 31.
In a statement, SA Health said 32 people had made a first formal request to start the process to access the pathway and that it had issued 11 permits.
"For many reasons, not all people who make a formal first request or who receive a permit, proceed to the final stage of the VAD process," the statement reads.
"SA Health is aware of at least six South Australians who have died after being administered or self-administering a voluntary assisted dying substance in accordance with the Act.
"Under the new laws, people considering voluntary assisted dying should speak with their doctor for more information, with health practitioners legally unable to initiate discussions with individuals about VAD."
Prospective patients must be aged 18 years or older, be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and a resident of South Australia for at least 12 months.
They must initiate the process themselves, act "freely and without coercion", and must meet the clinical requirements to access a prescribed VAD substance from a pharmacist.
The clinical assessment includes that the person's condition is incurable, progressive, and in its advanced stages, that it will cause death within a prescribed time frame, and is causing suffering that "cannot be relieved in a manner the person considers tolerable".
SA Health said access to VAD was dependent on the participation of "eligible, willing and trained" medical practitioners.
So far 44 doctors have completed the mandatory VAD training, and a further 54 have registered but are yet to complete the training.
Health Minister Chris Picton said the feedback from families who have gone through the VAD process had been "very positive".
Mr Picton encouraged more South Australian doctors to take up the two-part VAD training so the scheme can be available to more terminally ill people.
"The more doctors we get signed up to this, the more people who'll be able to get access to the end of their life in a peaceful and dignified way," he said.
