Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2024

This section applies if an individual has a coordinating practitioner.

The individual may ask another health practitioner to become their coordinating practitioner (a transfer request).

Within 4 business days after the day the individual makes a transfer request, the other health practitioner must—

tell the individual whether the other health practitioner accepts or refuses to accept the request; and

if the other health practitioner refuses to accept the request—refer the individual to the approved care navigator service.

The other health practitioner—

must refuse to accept the transfer request if they do not meet the coordinating practitioner requirements under section 97 (Requirements for acting as coordinating practitioner, consulting practitioner or administering practitioner); and

may refuse to accept the transfer request if they are unable or unwilling to exercise the functions of a coordinating practitioner.

A health practitioner may refuse to accept a transfer request if they have a conscientious objection (see s 99).

If the other health practitioner accepts the transfer request, the other health practitioner must—

tell the individual’s coordinating practitioner about their acceptance of the request; and

record the request acceptance in the individual’s health record; and

give the board written notice of the request acceptance as soon as practicable, but not later than 4 business days after the day the other health practitioner tells the individual that they accept the request.

An offence against this section is a strict liability offence.

When the other health practitioner gives the board notice under subsection (5) (c)—

the other health practitioner becomes the individual’s coordinating practitioner (the new practitioner); and

the coordinating practitioner functions transfer to the new practitioner.