The following information provides a detailed breakdown of the voluntary assisted dying process. Reading this may be upsetting or confronting for some people. If this raises distressing issues, support is available.
There are 3 key phases in the voluntary assisted dying process and each phase has a number of steps. You can stop this process at any time.
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Figure: A detailed flowchart of the process for voluntary assisted dying
Request and assessment
first request
first assessment
consulting assessment
second request
final request
final review
Administration of the voluntary assisted dying substance
administration decision
appointing the contact person
prescription of the voluntary assisted dying substance
You may need to pay for appointments with your coordinating doctor, consulting doctor, administering doctor or nurse, or any other healthcare workers as you usually would based on their fees. You should discuss any potential costs with your doctor at the start of the process.
Voluntary assisted dying is not emergency healthcare. You may take weeks or months to work your way through the process and make the final decision to administer the substance. Once you are deemed eligible, there is no maximum timeframe. You won’t be pressured to make decisions. You can decide to stop the process at any point.
Throughout the process you need to make 3 separate requests. There is a 9-day minimum timeframe between the first and final request, and the earliest you can make your final request is the 10th day after your first request was made and accepted, as shown in the timeline table below.
The 9-day timeframe is to safeguard access to voluntary assisted dying and ensure that your decision is well thought through.
This 9-day period can be shortened if both your coordinating doctor and consulting doctor believe you are likely to die or lose decision-making capacity for voluntary assisted dying before the 9-day period lapses.
After hours voluntary assisted dying care
Voluntary assisted dying services in Queensland operate within business hours. After hours care is not available. It is important to discuss this with your coordinating doctor or voluntary assisted dying team, to ensure you and those close to you can plan for your specific needs and supports in advance.
First request to final request timeframe
Example: If the person made the first request on the 17 April, the earliest they could make the final request is 26 April, 9 days later.
Table: first request to final request timeframe
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
17 April
18 April
19 April
20 April
21 April
22 April
23 April
24 April
25 April
26 April
First request made
Last day consulting assessment can occur if final request occurs on Day 10
Final request can be made
Request and assessment—Voluntary assisted dying process
Before you can access voluntary assisted dying, you must make 3 separate requests.
There must be at least 9 days between the first and final request. This period allows time for you to reflect on your choices while ensuring your suffering isn’t drawn out.
The 9-day period can be shortened if your coordinating and consulting doctors both believe that you are likely to die or lose decision-making capacity during that time.
First request
Only you can make a request for voluntary assisted dying, your family and carers cannot request voluntary assisted dying on your behalf.
You ask a doctor for access to voluntary assisted dying. This is the first of 3 requests.
The request must be:
clear and unambiguous, so your doctor knows exactly what you are asking
made by yourself and not by another person on your behalf
made verbally or by other means of communication such as gestures.
If you choose to start the voluntary assisted dying process, you should make your request to your doctor during a medical consultation. This can be in person or via telehealth.
Not all doctors provide voluntary assisted dying services, but all doctors have legal obligations.
The Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2021 (the Act) states that if a doctor chooses not to be involved, they must give you information about other doctors or services who may be able to help you access voluntary assisted dying. A doctor can refuse your request if they:
have a conscientious objection—this is the right to refuse to provide voluntary assisted dying due to personal reasons or beliefs
don’t have the appropriate skills or training to accept the first request
will not be available to help the person through the process–for example, they will be on leave.
If the reason for refusing the first request is a conscientious objection, the doctor must immediately inform you of this reason. Otherwise, the doctor must inform you of their acceptance or refusal within 2 business days after the first request is made.
If the doctor accepts the first request, they become your coordinating practitioner (coordinating doctor) and must give you the approved voluntary assisted dying first request information. The coordinating doctor supports you through the process. To be a coordinating doctor a doctor must meet eligibility criteria and have completed the mandatory training.
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Flowchart of the timeframes a doctor follows when responding to a first request for voluntary assisted dying.
First assessment
Following your first request, your coordinating doctor assesses if you are eligible for voluntary assisted dying.
To be eligible for voluntary assisted dying, your coordinating doctor will assess you against each of the eligibility criteria.
If your coordinating doctor wants a second opinion
If your coordinating doctor cannot determine if you:
have a disease, illness or medical condition that is advanced, progressive, and is expected to cause death within 12 months, that is causing intolerable suffering
have decision-making capacity in relation to voluntary assisted dying
are acting voluntarily or without coercion
they must refer you to another registered health practitioner or person with appropriate skills and training to determine if you do.
Once you have been to your referral appointment and your coordinating doctor has received the report, they can choose to:
adopt the determination in the report
rely on their own determination
seek a further determination (there is no limit on the number of times this can occur).
Your coordinating doctor will use their clinical judgement and expertise in making this decision.
Understand specific information provided
If your coordinating doctor believes you meet all the eligibility criteria they will give you information about:
your diagnosis and prognosis
the treatment options available to you and the likely outcomes of that treatment
the palliative care and treatment options available to you and the likely outcomes of that care and treatment
the request and assessment process, including the requirement for a written request (the second request) signed in the presence of 2 witnesses
the potential risks of self-administering or being administered the voluntary assisted dying substance likely to be prescribed
that the expected outcome of self-administering or being administered the voluntary assisted dying substance is death
the method the voluntary assisted dying substance is likely to be self-administered or practitioner administered
the fact that you can decide at any time not to continue the request and assessment process or not to access voluntary assisted dying
if you are receiving ongoing health services from other healthcare workers you might wish to tell them about your request to access voluntary assisted dying.
Before you can be assessed as eligible to access voluntary assisted dying your coordinating doctor must be satisfied that you understand the information you are given.
Outcome of the assessment
Assessed as eligible
You will be assessed as eligible and meeting the requirements of the first assessment If your coordinating doctor is satisfied you:
meet all the eligibility criteria
understand the information provided.
Your coordinating doctor will then refer you to another doctor for a second assessment–called the consulting assessment.
If the other doctor accepts the referral, they become your consulting practitioner (consulting doctor).
Assessed as ineligible
Your coordinating doctor can assess you as ineligible for voluntary assisted dying if they are not satisfied you:
meet all the eligibility criteria
understand the information given to you about voluntary assisted dying.
If your coordinating doctor assesses you as ineligible, the voluntary assisted dying process ends.
If your coordinating doctor decides that you are ineligible, they will:
Explain why you are not eligible.
If relevant, they may explain that your eligibility might change, if your circumstances change in the future. They may also explain that if your eligibility changes in the future, you may start the process again by making a new first request with them or a different doctor. For example, if your prognosis changes, you may become eligible for voluntary assisted dying at a later date.
If the decision is reviewable by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT), give you information about the decisions, the reasons for the decision and your right to have the decision reviewed by QCAT.
Give you a written copy of their decision.
Your coordinating doctor may also talk to you about other care and support available to you. This could include:
discussing how your treating healthcare team may help ease any physical symptoms, psychological, social or spiritual distress you may be experiencing
updating your care plan
providing you with alternate referrals to relevant healthcare workers
organising additional support from a specialist palliative care team (if one is not already involved in your care)
discussing your ineligibility for voluntary assisted dying with other members of your healthcare team and family, if you do not want this to happen though they will respect your privacy.
What you can do
If your coordinating doctor assesses you as ineligible you can:
make a new first request to a different doctor
if your situation changes, make a new first request to the same doctor at a different time.
If you do this the voluntary assisted dying process will start from the beginning.
Your consulting doctor will do a second, independent assessment, to decide if you are eligible.
Your consulting doctor can also refer you for a second opinion to determine if you:
have a disease, illness or medical condition that is advanced, progressive, and is expected to cause death within 12 months, that is causing intolerable suffering
have decision-making capacity in relation to voluntary assisted dying
are acting voluntarily or without coercion.
Outcome of the assessment
Assessed as eligible
You will be assessed as eligible and meeting the requirements of the consulting assessment If your consulting doctor is satisfied you:
They will advise your coordinating doctor that they have assessed you as eligible. You can then make a second request to your coordinating doctor.
Assessed as ineligible
Your consulting doctor can assess you as ineligible for voluntary assisted dying if they are not satisfied you:
meet all the eligibility criteria
understand the information given to you about voluntary assisted dying.
If your consulting doctor assesses you as ineligible, your coordinating doctor may refer you to another doctor for another consulting assessment. There is no limit on the number of times this can happen. However, if your coordinating doctor does not think it is appropriate to refer you, the process ends.
You can also apply to have certain consulting and coordinating doctors’ decisions reviewed by QCAT.
What you can do
If your coordinating doctor decides not to refer you for another consulting assessment you can:
make a new first request to a different doctor
if your situation changes, make a new first request to the same doctor at a different time.
If you do this the voluntary assisted dying process will start from the beginning.
Second request
You can stop the process at any time
You do not have to continue with the voluntary assisted dying process after the first and consulting assessments. You can stop the process at any time.
If you are assessed as eligible and you want to continue, you can make a second request, to your coordinating doctor in writing, to access voluntary assisted dying.
The second request can be made at any time after the consulting assessment is completed, and you have been assessed as eligible.
To make a second request you must complete the Second Request Form in writing. Your coordinating doctor will give you a copy of this form.
To complete the form, you must:
sign the Second Request Form in front of 2 eligible witnesses
physically sign the form, this means you and your 2 witnesses cannot use a digital signature
if you need an interpreter, they can sign the form electronically.
You do not need to complete the Second Request Form in the presence of your coordinating doctor.
If you are unable to write, you can ask someone else to sign the Second Request Form on your behalf. They must sign this front of you and your 2 witnesses. To be able to sign the request on your behalf the person must physically sign the Second Request Form in front of 2 eligible witnesses.
Your witness will need to certify that:
you signed the request in front of them
you appeared to sign the request freely and voluntarily.
Your witnesses must also state in the form that they are not knowingly an ineligible witness.
A witness cannot be:
someone who knows or believes that they are a beneficiary under your will or may benefit from your death
the owner or responsible for the management of any health facility where you are being treated or live
your coordinating or consulting doctor.
If you cannot find anyone to be your witnesses, you can:
speak to your coordinating doctor who may be able help you find witnesses
You do not need to fill in any forms to appoint someone as your witness. However, you should let your coordinating doctor know who is going to act as your witnesses.
If you are unable to write, you can ask someone else to sign the Second Request Form on your behalf. They must sign this front of you and your 2 witnesses. To be able to sign the request on your behalf the person must:
be at least 18 years of age
not be a witness to the signing of the request
not be your coordinating or consulting doctor.
You must give the signed Second Request Form to your coordinating doctor.
Further information
The following resources are available for you and your witnesses when completing the second request:
If you wish to continue with the request process, the next step is to make a third and final request to your coordinating doctor.
Final request and final review
Final request
After the second request is completed, signed, witnessed, and given to your coordinating doctor, you can make a third and final request for access to voluntary assisted dying.
If you decide to make a final request, you must make this request yourself to your coordinating doctor. This request can be made verbally, or by other means of communication such as hand gestures.
You should make the final request when you are ready. However, there is a 9-day minimum timeframe between the first and final request and the earliest you can make your final request is the 10th day after your first request was made and accepted, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
You must also wait until the day after your consulting assessment to make a final request.
What happens next
Your coordinating doctor may start the final review process after you have made a valid final request.
Final review
In this step your coordinating doctor will confirm if the request and assessment process has been completed correctly.
Your coordinating doctor must confirm that:
the request and review process was completed correctly
you still have decision-making capacity
you are acting voluntarily and without coercion.
Outcome of final review
Coordinating doctor is satisfied requirements are met
If your coordinating doctor is satisfied that the requirements of the final review have been met and if you wish to continue with the voluntary assisted dying process, the next step is to make an administration decision.
You can stop the process at anytime
You do not have to continue the voluntary assisted dying process after the request and assessment has been completed. You can stop the process at any time.
Coordinating doctor is not satisfied requirements are met
If your coordinating doctor is not satisfied, they will not move you onto the next stage.
Your coordinating doctor will:
Explain their decision.
If relevant, they may explain that your eligibility might change, if your circumstances change in the future and you may start the process again by making a new first request with them or a different doctor. For example, if your decision-making capacity changes, you may become eligible for voluntary assisted dying at a later date.
If the decision is reviewable by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT), give you information on the decision, the reasons for the decision and your right to have that decision reviewed by QCAT.
Your coordinating doctor will also talk to you about other care and support available to you. This could include:
discussing how your treating healthcare team may help ease any physical symptoms, psychosocial or spiritual distress you may be experiencing
updating your care plan
providing you with alternate referrals to relevant healthcare workers.
What you can do
If your coordinating doctor is not satisfied that you still have decision-making capacity and are acting voluntarily and without coercion, you can:
make a new first request to a different doctor
if your situation changes, make a new first request to the same doctor at a different time.
If you do this the voluntary assisted dying process will start from the beginning.
Administration of the voluntary assisted dying substance
You do not have to continue the voluntary assisted dying process after the request and assessment phase has been completed. You can stop the process at any time.
Administration decision
Once your coordinating doctor has completed the final review you may make an administration decision or you may decide not to make an administration decision. This decision is made in consultation with, and on the advice of, your coordinating doctor.
self-administration: you administer the voluntary assisted dying substance yourself
practitioner administration: your administering doctor or nurse administers you the voluntary assisted dying substance.
A practitioner administration decision can only be made if your coordinating doctor advises that self-administration is not suitable for you. To make this decision your coordinating doctor will consider the following:
your ability to self-administer the substance
your concerns about self-administering the substance
which method of administration is most suitable for you.
If a practitioner administration decision is made, an administering doctor or nurse will be appointed.
Your coordinating doctor can be your administering doctor. However, your coordinating doctor can transfer the role to another eligible doctor, nurse practitioner, or registered nurse who must accept or refuse the role. Your coordinating doctor can choose to transfer the role for any reason. They will tell you if this happens.
Your coordinating doctor will give you written information about the substance and administration of the substance.
You can revoke your administration decision
You can revoke your administration decision and make a new administration decision at any time. You can tell your coordinating doctor of your decision in writing, verbally, using gestures or in another way, for example, through a decision aid.
For example, if you make a self-administration decision but lose the ability to physically self-administer the voluntary assisted dying substance, you can revoke your decision and make a practitioner administration decision in consultation with your coordinating doctor. If you later regain your ability, you could decide to revoke your practitioner administration decision and again choose self-administration.
You can also revoke an administration decision at any time, if you do not wish to proceed.
What happens next
If you make an administration decision you must appoint a contact person before a prescription can be written, by your coordinating doctor.
Appointing the contact person
If you have made an administration decision you must appoint a contact person before the voluntary assisted dying substance can be prescribed by your coordinating doctor. Your contact person has an important role. You should choose someone who you think can handle the responsibility prior to your death and after you die.
Your contact person doesn't need to be present when you administer the substance.
Your contact person must:
be 18 years of age or over
agree to take on this role.
You contact person can be a:
carer
family member
partner or spouse
friend
a healthcare worker involved in your care
any person you trust to take on the role.
If you cannot find someone, you should speak to your coordinating or consulting doctor.
How to appoint a contact person
To appoint a contact person, you must:
fill in the Contact Person Appointment Form with your contact person
give the completed Contact Person Appointment Form to your coordinating doctor.
Your coordinating doctor will give you a copy of this form.
You do not need to complete the Contact Person Appointment Form in the presence of your coordinating doctor.
You can choose to change your contact person, or your contact person can refuse to continue in the role. If this happens you will have to appoint a new contact person.
The role of the contact person is different based on whether you make a self-administration or practitioner administration decision.
Note: there are other statutory roles you may act in or be appointed to. These include:
enduring power of attorney
statutory health attorney
general power of attorney.
The contact person is different to these roles. It has distinct responsibilities, as outlined below.
Self-administration decision
For a self-administration decision your contact person must:
tell the coordinating doctor when you have died
if there is any unused or remaining substance, give it to an authorised disposer (pharmacist)
if asked, provide information to the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board (the Review Board).
The Review Board will send your contact person information via email on how to complete their role.
Practitioner administration decision
For a practitioner administration decision your contact person’s role includes:
telling the coordinating doctor when you die
if asked, providing information to the Review Board.
Further information
If possible, it would be useful for your contact person to accompany you to an appointment to ask any questions they have.
The following resources are available to help you and your contact person:
Your coordinating doctor must give you information in writing, including:
information about the voluntary assisted dying substance
the risks and expected effects of administration of the voluntary assisted dying substance.
This information must be given in a face-to-face consultation or posted to you after the consultation.
The voluntary assisted dying substances can only be supplied by pharmacists employed by QVAD-Pharmacy.
What happens after prescription
Your coordinating doctor will make a request for supply of the voluntary assisted dying substance to QVAD-Pharmacy.
Supply
QVAD-Pharmacy will:
authenticate the prescription
confirm the identity of your coordinating doctor who issued the prescription
check a photo ID document to confirm the identity of the person to whom the voluntary assisted dying substance is to be supplied.
Self-administration
You or your coordinating doctor must contact QVAD-Pharmacy to request them supply the voluntary assisted dying substance to you. You can request that it be supplied at a time of your choosing.
You can decide not to take the substance, even if it has been supplied to you.
Pharmacists employed by QVAD-Pharmacy will supply the voluntary assisted dying substance directly to you, your contact person or agent. In most cases this pharmacist employed by QVAD-Pharmacy will supply the substance to you directly.
They will also supply the voluntary assisted dying substance kit and written information about the substance, including:
that you do not have to administer the substance
what the substance is
how to store the substance safely
how to prepare and self-administer the substance
the expected effects of self-administering the substance
the period within which you are likely to die after self-administration of the substance
the potential risks of self-administration of the substance
the responsibilities of your contact person to give any unused or remaining substance to an authorised disposer for disposal.
The pharmacist employed by QVAD-Pharmacy will check during the supply of the voluntary assisted dying substance for self-administration if you:
have decision-making capacity
are acting freely and voluntarily
are able to administer the substance yourself.
If the pharmacist employed by QVAD-Pharmacy believes you do not meet one of these criteria, they will not supply you with the voluntary assisted dying substance. The pharmacist will tell your coordinating doctor that they have not supplied you with the substance.
What you can do
If a pharmacist employed by QVAD-Pharmacy does not supply you with the substance for a self-administration decision, you can:
ask to reschedule the supply of the substance, if you regain capacity
ask your coordinating doctor if you can revoke your self-administration decision and make a new practitioner administration decision, if you cannot physically administer the substance.
Practitioner administration
Your administering doctor or nurse will make a plan with you for when practitioner administration of the voluntary assisted dying substance will occur. When a date and time has been confirmed, they will arrange for the supply of the voluntary assisted dying substance from QVAD-Pharmacy, to be supplied to them, in a timely manner.
Once supplied, your administering doctor or nurse will be responsible for the safe storage of the substance until you request for it to be administered.
What happens after supply
Once the voluntary assisted dying substance has been supplied the next step is administration, if you choose to continue.
You can decide at any time not to continue to access voluntary assisted dying.
Administration and death
You can stop the voluntary assisted dying process at any time, right up until the administration of the substance.
You can choose your preferred date, time, and place to administer the substance.
You should discuss your expectations and assumptions about administration of the voluntary assisted dying substance with your coordinating doctor or administering doctor or nurse. They may help you consider how best to support your plans for death.
These discussions could involve:
when and where in Queensland administration of the voluntary assisted dying substance might occur:
in your own home
in another home environment
on country
in a hospital
in a palliative care unit or hospice
in a residential aged care facility
religious, cultural, spiritual, or other aspects of death that are important to you
discussing ongoing symptom management and other palliative care needs
identifying who you would like to be present during administration of the voluntary assisted dying substance
supports to navigate family conflict (if any arises in relation to voluntary assisted dying)
how to help prepare those who will be present during voluntary assisted dying administration
providing instruction about comfort care to family, carers and friends
preparing for what happens immediately after your death has occurred
broader aspects of planning for death, if appropriate, including funeral arrangements and creating a will.
It’s recommended you include a support person in these discussions.
Self-administration
If you have made a self-administration decision you will be encouraged not to self-administer alone. If you choose to be alone, an appropriate plan should be put in place to ensure your contact person can complete their role, which includes:
telling the coordinating doctor when you die
if there is any unused or remaining substance, giving it to an authorised disposer (pharmacist)
if asked, providing information to the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board (the Review Board).
No one else can administer the substance to you—you must administer the substance yourself. Unauthorised administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance can result in criminal prosecution and imprisonment.
Your contact person must dispose of any unused or remaining substance in line with the disposal requirements. These requirements will be provided to them by the Review Board and QVAD-Pharmacy.
Practitioner administration
Your administering doctor or nurse must administer the substance to you in front of a witness. The witness to practitioner administration must be at least 18 years of age. There are no other eligibility requirements for the witness. You may have other people present for administration if you wish.
Before administering the voluntary assisted dying substance to you, your administering doctor or nurse must be satisfied that you:
still have decision-making capacity
are acting voluntarily and without coercion.
Your administering doctor or nurse must dispose of any unused or remaining substance in line with the disposal requirements.
Role of your witness
The purpose of a witness for practitioner administration is to provide a safeguard to ensure that:
your request for voluntary assisted dying is voluntary
you are not being pressured into accessing voluntary assisted dying by someone else.
Your witness for practitioner administration must be 18 years or older. They can be:
your partner or spouse
a family member
a friend
a carer
your contact person
a healthcare worker involved in your care
any person you trust to take on the role.
Your witness cannot be your administering doctor or nurse.
Your witness will need to fill in the witness section of the Practitioner Administration Form. This form is for your administering doctor or nurse to make a record of the administration of the voluntary assisted dying substance to you. This form is completed after you die. Your witness will need to certify in the form that:
you appeared to be acting voluntarily and without coercion
they were present when the doctor or nurse administered the substance to you.
Further information
The following resources are available for you and your witnesses for practitioner administration:
If your administering doctor or nurse is not satisfied you:
have decision-making capacity, or
are acting voluntarily and without coercion.
They will not administer you the substance.
Your coordinating doctor, or administering doctor or nurse will talk to you about other care and support available to you, this could include:
discussing how your treating healthcare team may help ease any physical symptoms, psychosocial or spiritual distress you may be experiencing
updating your care plan
providing you with alternate referrals to relevant healthcare workers
organising additional support from a specialist palliative care team, if one is not already involved in your care
discussing their decision with other members of your healthcare team and family—if you do not want this to happen, they will respect your privacy.
What you can do
If your administering doctor or nurse does not administer you the substance because you don't have capacity, if you regain capacity you can ask to reschedule the administration of the substance for another time.
What happens next
After you die, the death notification and certification will be completed and any unused or remaining voluntary assisted dying substance will be disposed.
Your contact person must inform your coordinating doctor if you die from self-administration of the voluntary assisted dying substance or some other cause, within 2 business days of becoming aware of your death.
Your coordinating doctor and your administering doctor or nurse must notify the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board (the Review Board) that you have died, within 2 business days of becoming aware of your death.
If another doctor completes your cause of death certificate, they must also inform the Review Board, if they know you accessed voluntary assisted dying.
Completing the death certificate
The doctor certifying the death must write on the death certificate that your underlying illness, disease, or medical condition was the cause of death. It must not mention voluntary assisted dying.
Disposal of the voluntary assisted dying substance
Self-administration
For self-administration, any unused or remaining voluntary assisted dying substance must be given to an authorised disposer by your contact person and disposed of in line with the disposal requirements.
Practitioner administration
For practitioner administration, the administering doctor or nurse must dispose of the voluntary assisted dying substance in line with the disposal requirements.
The process for voluntary assisted dying,
27 Mar 2025,
[https://www.qldgovau.staging-services.qld.gov.au/health/support/voluntary-assisted-dying/explained/process]
This document is uncontrolled when printed. Before using the information in this document you should verify the current content on https://www.qldgovau.staging-services.qld.gov.au/health/support/voluntary-assisted-dying/explained/process.
