Request and assessment—Voluntary assisted dying process

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.

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.

You can also apply to have the decision reviewed by QCAT.

In this guide:

1. First request
2. First assessment
3. Consulting assessment
4. Second request
5. Final request and final review

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