Information for health professionals and service providers
Health professionals will need to understand their legal responsibilities when a person asks about voluntary assisted dying.
Guidance will be developed to cover:
- how to respond when someone asks about voluntary assisted dying
- eligibility and assessment requirements
- recognising possible pressure or coercion
- practitioner roles and responsibilities
- cultural safety
- conscientious objection
- medication safety
- documentation and reporting
- professional wellbeing and support.
Talking about voluntary assisted dying
A healthcare worker cannot suggest voluntary assisted dying or start a discussion about it.
They can only provide information if a person asks about voluntary assisted dying.
The person must make and continue the request themselves. A family member, guardian or substitute decision-maker cannot make the request on their behalf.
Coordinating and consulting doctors
The coordinating and consulting practitioners must be eligible doctors who have:
- completed the approved training
- met the requirements to participate in the voluntary assisted dying process.
The coordinating doctor will assess the person and coordinate the request and assessment process.
A second eligible and trained doctor will independently assess whether the person meets the eligibility requirements.
Administering the approved substance
Depending on the person’s decision, the approved substance may be administered by the eligible person or an eligible and trained:
- doctor
- nurse practitioner
- experienced registered nurse
- experienced Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner.
Strict controls will apply to the prescription, supply, storage, administration and disposal of the approved substance.
Conscientious objection
Health practitioners can choose not to participate in voluntary assisted dying because of their personal beliefs. This is known as conscientious objection.
Information requirements will apply to help make sure a person is not left without a pathway to assistance.
More detailed guidance about conscientious objection will be provided before access begins.
What service providers need to do
Hospitals, primary care, aged care, disability and community service providers should prepare to respond to lawful requests for voluntary assisted dying.
Organisations will need to consider how they will protect and support peoples:
- rights
- privacy
- continuity of care
- cultural safety
- access to information.
Guidance for service providers will cover:
- organisational policies
- whether and how the organisation will participate
- conscientious objection
- access and transfer arrangements
- staff roles and responsibilities
- complaints
- incident management.
Training and supporting information
NT Health is developing:
- approved training for participating health professionals
- clinical pathways and a model of care
- forms, guidelines and policies
- secure information systems
- a Territory-wide Care Navigator Service
- a Territory-wide Pharmacy Service
- culturally safe and accessible information
- support for health and community service providers.