Voluntary Assisted Dying First request

The information below is intended to assist practitioners to understand what their obligations are in relation to receiving a First Request from a patient. It is recommended that practitioners refer to the WA Voluntary Assisted Dying Guidelines, resources and the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2019 where required. Practitioners can also seek information and support from the WA Voluntary Assisted Dying Statewide Care Navigator Service on 08 9431 2755 or VADcarenavigator@health.wa.gov.au

Receiving a request for Voluntary Assisted Dying

From 1 July 2021 any medical practitioner who receives a request for voluntary assisted dying from a patient will have obligations as per the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act (2019) if the request they receive from a patient is:

• clear and unambiguous; and,
• made to a medical practitioner during a medical consultation; and,
• made in person (or, if that is not practical, via audiovisual communication).

A request that meets the conditions above is known as a First request.

Responding to a request for Voluntary Assisted Dying

Any medical practitioner who receives a First Request for access to voluntary assisted dying during a medical consultation must:

1. Give* the patient the Approved Information for a Person Making a First Request for Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF 1.3MB) booklet| Audio (MP3 16MB)
2. Decide if they are going to accept or refuse the First Request
• Accepting the First Request means that this practitioner will undertake the voluntary assisted
  dying process with the patient (become the Coordinating Practitioner).
• If the practitioner does not want to be the doctor responsible for voluntary assisted dying, or is
  not eligible to do so, then they should Refuse the First Request.
  The patient can still seek to access voluntary assisted dying but they will need to find another practitioner e.g. by contacting the WA VAD Statewide Care Navigator Service.
3. Inform* the patient of their decision
4. Complete* and submit the First Request Form to the Voluntary Assisted Dying Board via VAD-IMS (external site)
• Be aware that submission of the First Request Form to the Voluntary Assisted Dying Board is for notification purposes only. No contact will be made with the patient to support further access to voluntary assisted dying. Patients needing additional support to find a medical practitioner or to explore their end-of-life priorities can be encouraged to contact the WA VAD Statewide Care Navigator Service.
5. Document the following in the patient’s medical record:
• the First Request
• the medical practitioner’s decision to accept or refuse the First Request
• if refusal, the reason for refusal
• whether the medical practitioner has given the patient the Approved Information booklet.

*NB: Certain actions must be done within specified timeframes as per below:

• If the medical practitioner refuses the First Request by reason of conscientious objection, they must immediately inform the patient of the refusal and give the patient the Approved Information booklet. In all other circumstances (both acceptance or refusal) the medical practitioner must inform the patient and give them the Approved Information booklet within two business days of the request.
• The First Request Form must be completed and given to the Voluntary Assisted Dying Board within two business days of the medical practitioner’s decision to accept or refuse the First Request.
• Under the Act there may be penalties for non-compliance with these requirements.

Refer to the Department of Health voluntary assisted dying website or the WA Voluntary Assisted Dying Guidelines (PDF 11MB) for more detailed information regarding medical practitioner obligations upon receiving a First Request including an example copy of the First Request form.

The following VAD-IMS guides may assist you to complete your submission:

• Quick Reference Guide - First Request Form (PDF 1.2MB)
• Quick Reference Guide – Upload a signed form (PDF 735KB)
• Demo video - First Request Form (external site)