TranslateVoluntary Assisted Dying resources for health professionals
Voluntary assisted dying is a process that enables a person who is suffering from a terminal medical condition to legally access a substance to end their life, with support and assistance from medical practitioners.
Minimum obligations
The End-of-Life Choices (Voluntary Assisted Dying) Act 2021 (the Act) imposes certain minimum obligations on all medical practitioners, including medical practitioners who have a conscientious objection to voluntary assisted dying. These include obligations such as:
- To provide information to patients as prescribed in the Act
- To provide a patient's medical records as prescribed in the Act
- To answer questions or produce documents as prescribed in the Act
Medical practitioners (and registered nurses) are not obliged to participate in the voluntary assisted dying process beyond the minimum obligations prescribed in the Act. They may refuse for reasons including:
- Having a conscientious objection
- Not having suitable qualifications or experience
- Not having successfully completed the Tasmanian Voluntary Assisted Dying Training
- Any other reason
Medical practitioners (and registered nurses) are not obliged to provide an explanation if they decline to participate in the voluntary assisted dying process beyond the minimum obligations prescribed in the Act.
Clinical Practice Handbook
The Voluntary Assisted Dying Clinical Practice Handbook outlines the voluntary assisted dying process in Tasmania and the roles and responsibilities of registered health practitioners and others supporting a person through it. It also provides information about the functions of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Commission, Voluntary Assisted Dying Navigation Service, and Voluntary Assisted Dying Pharmacy Service.
View the Voluntary Assisted Dying Clinical Practice Handbook
Information for Medical Practitioners
The voluntary assisted dying process starts when a person makes a First Request to their medical practitioner to determine whether they are eligible to access voluntary assisted dying and ends with the supply and administration, or private self-administration of a VAD Substance to the person.
Learn more about voluntary assisted dying as a medical practitioner
Tasmanian Voluntary Assisted Dying Training
If a medical practitioner (or registered nurse) chooses to be actively involved in the assisted dying process there are several requirements they must meet:
- They must be suitably qualified and experienced, and
- They must have successfully completed the Tasmanian Voluntary Assisted Dying Training.
Learn more about Voluntary Assisted Dying training in Tasmania
Other resources
Organ donation
Organ donation after voluntary assisted dying is legal and possible in clinically appropriate circumstances.
View the fact sheet on voluntary assisted dying and organ and tissue donation after death
Health Service Establishments and Residential Aged Care Facilities
It is important that you are aware of the standards that must be met by your facility in relation to the implementation and management of voluntary assisted dying. It is recommended that you seek independent legal advice about your obligations under state and Australian Government legislation, and the various guidelines and standards applicable to your facility.
Even if your facility is not supportive of voluntary assisted dying occurring on-site, all staff must meet any applicable minimum obligations prescribed in the Act.
Medical certificates of cause of death and declarations of life extinct
Specific guidelines have been created to assist medical practitioners and others in completing medical certificates of cause of death and declarations of life extinct for people who have died following the administration or self-administration of a Voluntary Assisted Dying Substance pursuant to the End-of-Life Choices (Voluntary Assisted Dying) Act 2021.
Learn more about medical certificates of cause of death and declarations of life extinct
