Request and assessment—Voluntary assisted dying process
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.
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
- contact the Queensland Voluntary Assisted Dying Support Service (QVAD-Support) who may be able to 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:
- Choosing your witnesses to the second request (PDF, 299KB)
- Being a witness to the second request (PDF, 304KB)
- Checklist for being a witness to the second request (PDF, 323KB)
What happens next
If you wish to continue with the request process, the next step is to make a third and final request to your coordinating doctor.
In this guide: