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In June 2021, the South Australian government passed the <\/span>Voluntary Assisted Dying Act<\/span><\/i> 2021 (\u2018<\/span>The Act<\/span><\/i>\u2019). South Australia is the fourth Australian state to legalise voluntary assisted dying, which is also called euthanasia. The Act is expected to come into effect on 29 March 2023, and is modelled on the Victorian legislation which was passed in 2017.<\/span><\/p>\n The Act features more than 70 safeguards and conditions which must be met before euthanasia can be performed. This includes the requirement that you must have been diagnosed with a disease, illness, or medical condition that:<\/span><\/p>\n You can only request voluntary assisted dying if you are acting freely without coercion and have mental capacity.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n What is an Advanced Care Directive (ACD)?<\/b><\/p>\n An ACD is different to a Will or Power of Attorney. It outlines your wishes for future medical treatment (along with end of life, preferred living arrangements and other personal matters) and appoints a Substitute Decision-Maker to make these decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. Read more <\/span>here<\/span><\/a> about the importance of an ACD.<\/span><\/p>\n ACDs cannot stipulate that you would like to be euthanised, as there are many safeguards contained within the Act that must first be met. Voluntary assisted dying is only legal through the prescribed process in The Act.<\/span><\/p>\n ACDs can include a \u2018refusal of treatment\u2019 clause, meaning that your Substitute Decision-Maker will not be able to direct that you receive specific healthcare treatment. An example of a \u2018refusal of treatment\u2019 clause is a directive not to accept blood transfusions. However, a refusal of treatment clause cannot operate as a request for voluntary assisted dying.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Creating an ACD vs requesting Euthanasia<\/b><\/p>\n A key distinction between requesting euthanasia and creating an ACD is the requirement for mental capacity. To receive euthanasia, you must have mental capacity, and be acting freely and without coercion. While you must have mental capacity to draft and sign your ACD, it only comes into effect once you lose mental capacity. Another difference is that you cannot preemptively request euthanasia \u2013 you must have an incurable disease, and satisfy all the criteria. However, an ACD is written in consideration of a situation where you lose capacity, to appoint someone to make decisions on your behalf and carry out your wishes.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n So, can I request Voluntary Assisted Dying in my ACD?<\/b><\/p>\n The short answer is no. Choosing voluntary assisted dying requires mental capacity, which is inconsistent with how an ACD operates, as they only come into effect when you no longer have mental capacity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n