Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2021

A speech pathologist who has a conscientious objection to voluntary assisted dying has the right to refuse to do any of the following—

provide information to another person about voluntary assisted dying;

participate in the request and assessment process;

participate in an administration decision;

be present at the time of the administration or self-administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance.

A speech pathologist who, because of a conscientious objection, refuses to do a thing mentioned in subsection (1) for an employer or for any other person who has requested speech pathology services in relation to voluntary assisted dying—

must inform the employer or other person of the speech pathologist’s conscientious objection; and

must inform the employer or other person of another speech pathologist or speech pathology service who, in the speech pathologist’s belief, is likely to be able to assist in providing the speech pathology services requested; and

must not intentionally impede the person’s access to speech pathology services in relation to voluntary assisted dying.

Subsection (4) applies if—

a speech pathologist is employed or otherwise engaged by a health service provider; and

the speech pathologist knows, or ought reasonably to know, the health service provider provides, or is likely to provide, services relating to voluntary assisted dying.

The speech pathologist must—

inform the health service provider of the speech pathologist’s conscientious objection to voluntary assisted dying; and

discuss with the health service provider how they can practise in accordance with their beliefs without placing a burden on their colleagues or compromising a person’s access to voluntary assisted dying under this Act.

In this section—

speech pathologist means a person who is eligible for practising membership of The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited ACN 008 393 440.