Voices From Voluntary Assisted Dying

Dr Laureen Lawlor-Smith
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This podcast series aims to share stories from the family members of loved ones who have accessed Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) in South Australia. VAD enables eligible people to voluntarily access and self-administer - or in some cases have a doctor administer - a medication that will end their life. The journeys undertaken in this podcast are deeply personal and reflective of the speakers' own experiences and circumstances. VAD in South Australia is only accessible to people who meet strict criteria. Comprehensive information on Voluntary Assisted Dying in Your State is provided on the Go Gentle website  at https://www.gogentleaustralia.org.au/vad_in_your_state or by contacting your State Health Department. If listening to this podcast raises distressing issues for you, please contact one of the following support services: Griefline (https://griefline.org.au/) 1300 845 745 Grief Australia (https://www.grief.org.au/) 1800 642 745 Lifeline (https://www.lifeline.org.au/) 13 11 14, or chat online 24 hours a day

  1. -2 j

    Episode 26 – Sandra’s journey to access VAD

    This year, Sandra was diagnosed with the same aggressive lung cancer that took her father's life. Having spent thirteen years as an ambulance clinician and watched her father suffer through chemotherapy, she understood exactly what aggressive treatment would cost her — and chose a different path.  Sandra speaks with Dr Laureen Lawlor-Smith about weighing an oncologist's optimism against her own clinical experience, the compassionate and thorough support she found through South Australia's Voluntary Assisted Dying process, and the relief of knowing the choice is now hers to make.  She also shares how she's spending her remaining time: continuing a PhD project on trauma-informed care for children, tying up loose ends, and finding peace in a decision made entirely on her own terms.  Comprehensive information on Voluntary Assisted Dying in Your State is provided on the Go Gentle website at https://www.gogentleaustralia.org.au/vad_in_your_state or by contacting your State Health Department.  If listening to this podcast raises distressing issues for you, please contact one of the following support services:  Griefline (https://griefline.org.au/) 1300 845 745 Grief Australia (https://www.grief.org.au/) 1800 642 745 Lifeline (https://www.lifeline.org.au/) 13 11 14, or chat online 24 hours a day See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  2. 28 juin

    Episode 25 – Nicole

    The experience of voluntary assisted dying is shaped not only by legislation, but by access. Nicole’s family discovered that geography, travel requirements and gaps in healthcare services can create significant barriers for people facing terminal illness, particularly in regional Australia.  Nicole shares the story of her stepfather Shane, who lived with motor neurone disease for more than two years before choosing VAD. She reflects on the practical realities of navigating the approval process, the challenges of accessing qualified practitioners in rural Victoria, and the impact inadequate care services can have on end-of-life decisions.  Nicole describes the deeply personal nature of Shane’s decision; and the peaceful circumstances of his death. She also discusses why greater awareness, telehealth access and legislative reform are essential to ensure people can access voluntary assisted dying with dignity, regardless of where they live.   Comprehensive information on Voluntary Assisted Dying in Your State is provided on the Go Gentle website  at https://www.gogentleaustralia.org.au/vad_in_your_state or by contacting your State Health Department.  If listening to this podcast raises distressing issues for you, please contact one of the following support services:  Griefline (https://griefline.org.au/) 1300 845 745 Grief Australia (https://www.grief.org.au/) 1800 642 745 Lifeline (https://www.lifeline.org.au/) 13 11 14, or chat online 24 hours a day See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  3. 14 juin

    Episode 24 – Why We Need Better Conversations About Dying

    Death is universal, yet modern society often treats it as something hidden, feared and rarely discussed. Cultural anthropologist and Buddhist scholar Dr Hannah Gould explores how religion, medicine, mortality and voluntary assisted dying shape the way Australians think about death in the 21st century.  Drawing on her research, Buddhist practice and personal experience of losing her father at a young age, Hannah reflects on why Western cultures struggle with death, how medicine’s “fight against death” mentality affects patients and clinicians, and why conversations about dying matter. She discusses how changing death practices may reshape grief, funerals and end-of-life rituals. Her book How to Die in the 21st Century offers a compassionate, accessible and thought-provoking guide to confronting mortality.  How to Die in the 21st Century by Dr Hannah Gould https://thamesandhudson.com.au/products/how-to-die-in-the-21st-century  Comprehensive information on Voluntary Assisted Dying in Your State is provided on the Go Gentle website  at https://www.gogentleaustralia.org.au/vad_in_your_state or by contacting your State Health Department.  If listening to this podcast raises distressing issues for you, please contact one of the following support services:  Griefline (https://griefline.org.au/) 1300 845 745 Grief Australia (https://www.grief.org.au/) 1800 642 745 Lifeline (https://www.lifeline.org.au/) 13 11 14, or chat online 24 hours a day See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  4. 31 mai

    Episode 23 - The Rural Reality of Voluntary Assisted Dying with Dr Tim Leeuwenburg

    Access to voluntary assisted dying can depend heavily on where a patient lives. Rural doctor Dr Tim Leeuwenburg sees this firsthand through his work on Kangaroo Island, where patients often face long delays, travel burdens and complex legal barriers just to begin the VAD process.  With decades of experience in rural medicine, anaesthesia and critical care retrieval, Tim explains why VAD has become an important extension of holistic end-of-life care in regional communities. He joins Laureen to discuss the challenges facing rural patients, including cross-border residency rules, telehealth restrictions, workforce shortages and poor remuneration for practitioners. They reveal how bureaucracy and geography can complicate a patient’s final months and why legislative reform is urgently needed to improve equitable access across Australia.     Comprehensive information on Voluntary Assisted Dying in Your State is provided on the Go Gentle website  at https://www.gogentleaustralia.org.au/vad_in_your_state or by contacting your State Health Department.  If listening to this podcast raises distressing issues for you, please contact one of the following support services:  Griefline (https://griefline.org.au/) 1300 845 745  Grief Australia (https://www.grief.org.au/) 1800 642 745 Lifeline (https://www.lifeline.org.au/) 13 11 14, or chat online 24 hours a day See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  5. 28 avr.

    Episode 22 - How the ACT Legalised Voluntary Assisted Dying

    ACT Attorney-General Tara Cheyne reflects on the long and complex journey to legalise voluntary assisted dying (VAD) in the ACT, from the overturning of Northern Territory laws in 1997 to the restoration of territory rights in 2022 and the passage of ACT legislation in 2024. She outlines the deliberate, community-led approach taken to design a more compassionate and practical framework, removing rigid prognosis timeframes, enabling open conversations between clinicians and patients, and expanding the role of nurse practitioners.  Ms Cheyne highlights the human impact behind her advocacy, shaped by her father’s end-of-life experience, and argues that VAD should sit alongside palliative care as part of a continuum of choice. She also addresses ongoing challenges, particularly federal restrictions on telehealth, which continue to limit access for vulnerable patients. The conversation underscores the importance of dignity, autonomy and continued reform. Comprehensive information on Voluntary Assisted Dying in Your State is provided on the Go Gentle website  at https://www.gogentleaustralia.org.au/vad_in_your_state or by contacting your State Health Department.  If listening to this podcast raises distressing issues for you, please contact one of the following support services: Griefline (https://griefline.org.au/) 1300 845 745 Grief Australia (https://www.grief.org.au/) 1800 642 745 Lifeline (https://www.lifeline.org.au/) 13 11 14, or chat online 24 hours a day  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  6. 23 mars

    Episode 21 – From Advocacy to Law: The Evolution of VAD in New Zealand

    Voluntary assisted dying can provide dignity and relief at the end of life, but legislation must balance access with safeguards. Ann David, former President of New Zealand’s End of Life Choice Society, shares her personal journey into advocacy, explains how New Zealand’s VAD law was passed and implemented, outlines key differences from Australian models, and discusses proposed reforms aimed at improving access, eligibility, and protections for patients.   Comprehensive information on Voluntary Assisted Dying in Your State is provided on the Go Gentle website  at https://www.gogentleaustralia.org.au/vad_in_your_state or by contacting your State Health Department.  If listening to this podcast raises distressing issues for you, please contact one of the following support services: Griefline (https://griefline.org.au/) 1300 845 745 Grief Australia (https://www.grief.org.au/) 1800 642 745 Lifeline (https://www.lifeline.org.au/) 13 11 14, or chat online 24 hours a day See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  7. 9 mars

    Episode 20 – Dr Laureen Lawlor-Smith’s own reflections on VAD

    Roles are reversed this episode as Dr Laureen Lawlor-Smith – who normally sits in the host’s chair – is interviewed by previous guest, Jane Nosworthy, VAD support group facilitator with Dying With Dignity Victoria.  Laureen shares her own perspective as a South Australian GP who has worked with around 160 people seeking Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD). Motivated by decades of end-of-life care, including witnessing both peaceful and traumatic deaths, she argues VAD restores dignity, control and relief, particularly where palliative care cannot address loss of independence or suffering.  Laureen describes the emotional shift from early anxiety about new legislation and strict paperwork to calm confidence in a process she finds consistently gentle for patients and families. She outlines key system pressures: workforce shortages, limited remuneration, the risk of practitioner burnout, and the need for mentorship and debriefing supports. She also critiques barriers including prognosis thresholds, frailty, dementia, and South Australia’s “gag clause,” which inspired her to launch a public-facing podcast to demystify access.  Comprehensive information on Voluntary Assisted Dying in Your State is provided on the Go Gentle website  at https://www.gogentleaustralia.org.au/vad_in_your_state or by contacting your State Health Department.  If listening to this podcast raises distressing issues for you, please contact one of the following support services: Griefline (https://griefline.org.au/) 1300 845 745 Grief Australia (https://www.grief.org.au/) 1800 642 745 Lifeline (https://www.lifeline.org.au/) 13 11 14, or chat online 24 hours a day  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  8. 28 janv.

    Episode 19 - Inside Victoria’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Reforms

    Jane Morris, President of Dying with Dignity Victoria, traces her lifelong commitment to voluntary assisted dying, shaped by childhood experiences, nursing practice, bioethics study, and the traumatic death of her mother from motor neurone disease.  She reflects on the pioneering advocacy of Rodney Syme and the catalytic public impact of Andrew Denton. She outlines Victoria’s recent VAD law reforms, including improved access, reduced safeguards, expanded practitioner roles, removal of the gag clause, workforce support, and patient choice in administration. Jane also highlights ongoing challenges, particularly institutional objection and the unresolved issue of dementia and advance directives.  Dying with Dignity Victoria https://www.dwdv.org.au/  Comprehensive information on Voluntary Assisted Dying in Your State is provided on the Go Gentle website  at https://www.gogentleaustralia.org.au/vad_in_your_state or by contacting your State Health Department.  If listening to this podcast raises distressing issues for you, please contact one of the following support services: Griefline (https://griefline.org.au/) 1300 845 745 Grief Australia (https://www.grief.org.au/) 1800 642 745 Lifeline (https://www.lifeline.org.au/) 13 11 14, or chat online 24 hours a day See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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À propos

This podcast series aims to share stories from the family members of loved ones who have accessed Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) in South Australia. VAD enables eligible people to voluntarily access and self-administer - or in some cases have a doctor administer - a medication that will end their life. The journeys undertaken in this podcast are deeply personal and reflective of the speakers' own experiences and circumstances. VAD in South Australia is only accessible to people who meet strict criteria. Comprehensive information on Voluntary Assisted Dying in Your State is provided on the Go Gentle website  at https://www.gogentleaustralia.org.au/vad_in_your_state or by contacting your State Health Department. If listening to this podcast raises distressing issues for you, please contact one of the following support services: Griefline (https://griefline.org.au/) 1300 845 745 Grief Australia (https://www.grief.org.au/) 1800 642 745 Lifeline (https://www.lifeline.org.au/) 13 11 14, or chat online 24 hours a day

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