An advocate for voluntary assisted dying has questioned the transparency and accessibility of South Australia's euthanasia implementation.
Jane Qualmann, who is based in Mount Gambier in the state's south-east, has welcomed the newly appointed Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board but voiced her concerns on other matters.
"There hasn't been a lot of transparency in regard to the implementation process and what's actually been happening," she said.
"There's just not a lot of information out there.
"I was talking to some nurses at Flinders Medical Centre a couple of months ago, and they asked me about voluntary assisted dying (VAD) and what's happening, and they couldn't find a lot of information on the SA Health website."
Ms Qualmann says it felt as though the public was only hearing "the bare necessities".
"When there is no transparency, or very little transparency, a lot of misinformation can be put out there," she said.
"The more [information] that gets out, the better it is for the implementation process, and it makes the community feel more confident.
"It also helps those who have got a fear of VAD to feel more informed about the process, that it's not as scary."
Ms Qualmann does not have a lot of confidence in the January rollout.
"Not only for me, but for a lot of people, we're questioning it," she said.
Regional GP availability
Ms Qualmann said more information was vital for terminally ill patients — particularly in regional areas.
"There was a comment made when the bill was being read ... it was a concern that it'd be easier to access VAD in the city, rather than in the regions," she said.
"To have more information come out, especially for the regional areas is needed, so that we have confidence that it is going to be rolled out at the end of January."
Ms Qualmann's concerns centred around GP availability.
"It takes us a long time to get into a doctor," she said.
"A doctor can conscientiously object to talking to a patient about VAD.
"If our GP says, 'Sorry, I can't talk to you about it; I conscientiously object', we then have to find a new doctor.
"Now that could be a six, eight, 12-week waiting list to get in to see someone else.
"So are there doctors trained in the regions for VAD, or will we have to go to the city?"
Recruitment underway
Health Minister Chris Picton said he was "determined" to implement VAD "as quickly as possible, as safely as possible, and [make it] as accessible as possible".
The government has committed $18 million over five years to the scheme, with rollout confirmed for January 31, 2023.
"The implementation date is continually under review and if there is any avenue to safely bring it forward further then we will absolutely do so," Mr Picton said.
"Updates will continue to be provided in the lead-up to implementation."
Mr Picton noted the government was working to ensure all eligible South Australians, including those in regional areas, "have access to information on the scheme and services".
"A crucial element will be training medical practitioners to enable regional access which will ramp up over the coming weeks," he said.
New pharmacists and care navigators are being hired and trained.
A group of pharmacists will facilitate the supply, education and safe disposal of the medication, while a VAD care navigator service will provide information, facilitate connections and support referrals.
