The daughter of a woman who has died through accessing voluntary assisted dying in South Australia says she's happy her mother could die with dignity, and on her own terms.
Amanda Hancock's mother Denise Wyatt is one of six South Australians who have died through accessing voluntary assisted dying (VAD), since new laws took effect in SA earlier this year.
Under the law, a person with a terminal illness may access VAD in the state if they meet certain criteria.
For the family of Denise Wyatt, it meant their beloved mother and wife — who was living with rare genetic disorder Huntington's disease — was in charge of her own fate.
"Right from the beginning from when she was diagnosed, she wanted to take this pathway," Ms Hancock said.
"My mum had that choice and control, and to die with dignity was obviously what we all wanted."
Ms Hancock said she was thankful her 75-year-old mother was in control leading into her final days.
"Mum declined rapidly especially in the last six months," she said.
"She was a very strong woman that just kept going."
Ms Hancock said her mother told her: "I've had the best life, but now I've got no quality of life, and this is the pathway that I need to go down."
She has described her mother as a passionate Adelaide Crows fan who was always the last one standing and the last one dancing.
"My mum was a healthy, beautiful, and lively lady," she said.
"She just loved life to the fullest and she had a fantastic life."
But in the end, Ms Wyatt died on her own terms and was adamant about how she would go, opting for SA Health's new formal VAD Pathway.
"My last phone call to the Pathway was, 'My mum is going to die of starvation if this is not done sooner rather than later'," Ms Hancock said.
"She was under 40 kilos when she passed, she was a healthy 75 kilos in her prime.
"Her body was giving up on her.
"She would tell anyone that visited her, I want to die."
'It has been a life changer'
Ms Hancock remembers having a family meeting to discuss her mother's wishes.
"Mum was very adamant that this was going to happen, so there was no stopping her," she said.
"My family members in the end were all on board, it just took a little bit of education."
So far in South Australia, 35 people have made a first request to commence the process to access VAD and 13 permits have been issued by SA Health.
A spokesperson from SA Health said 44 medical practitioners have completed the mandatory VAD training, while a further 69 have registered but not yet completed the training.
Ms Wyatt's last day was spent celebrating her life with her family and friends.
She chose a date that would allow her to see one of her four grandchildren celebrate his fifth birthday.
"He turned five on the 25th of February and she passed a week later," Ms Hancock said.
"We had some beautiful music and a beautiful send off for her.
"My mum had all input into every aspect of what went on, every aspect of what she wore, to the colour of what she wanted people to wear at the funeral, she did her own eulogy.
"With this pathway, obviously you know when it's going to happen so you can be prepared and have these conversations."
After watching her mother's quality of life deteriorate, Ms Hancock said she had become a huge advocate for such an option and that the family felt supported throughout the entire process.
"It has been a life changer, this legislation coming in on the 31st of January," she said.
"From the very first conversation right until the day my mum passed everything was done amazingly, considering it is brand new.
"Speak to the right people, have the conversations, don't be scared.
"It's a beautiful process."
