COVER FEATURE VAD changes ‘cause of death’ reporting

The introduction of voluntary assisted dying (VAD) in South Australia has profound implications for many of our members and the broader community.

One feature of end-of life-care that has already changed is to the form that reports a patient’s cause of death.

The Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) Registration Office has provided a new ‘cause of death’ form that doctors must now complete when certifying a death. The introduction of the form coincides with the availability of VAD in South Australia. Changes to the form

While most content remains unchanged, the form has been changed to:

• include questions to elicit the information required under section 84 of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2021 from a medical practitioner about the death of a person who is the subject of an assisted dying permit

• include more information about deaths that must be reported to the Coroner

• re-order and re-format the content of the form

• allow the form to be completed electronically

• allow for the doctor’s electronic signature to be added to the form enable uploading of the form to a BDM webpage.

When to use the form

The form must be used for all deaths that must be reported to BDM, including but not limited to deaths through VAD.

In the case of a perinatal death (a live born child dying within 28 days of birth) or a stillbirth, a medical certificate of cause of perinatal death form should be completed.

Obtaining a copy of the form

An e-copy of the form can be accessed by emailing BDM at registrations.bdm@agd.sa.gov.au

Please contact Births, Deaths and Marriages on 131 882 or email registrations.bdm@agd.sa.gov.au if you have any questions.