Dr Liz Rushbrook, Chief Medical Officer,
Emergency Management and Business Continuity
Today the Queensland Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2021 comes into effect. This means from today patients may ask questions about or initiate a request for voluntary assisted dying (VAD).
As a healthcare worker, it is essential to understand your rights and obligations to ensure we can appropriately support our community.
All staff, especially those in clinical areas, are strongly encouraged to complete the Voluntary Assisted Dying Education module for healthcare workers. The training only takes 45 minutes and will equip you with the knowledge to meet your obligations to our patients and community. The training includes specific information relevant to different types of healthcare workers, the strict eligibility criteria, legal requirements, and the minimum timeframes for requests.
It is essential that you are aware of your obligations as a healthcare worker under the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2021. Even healthcare workers who are conscientious objectors have obligations under the Act.
Under the Act, only a medical practitioner or a nurse practitioner can initiate a conversation about voluntary assisted dying.
Any other healthcare worker who initiates a conversation about VAD could be found to be in breach of the Act. However, we all need to know what to do if a patient raises the topic with you.
A healthcare worker can provide general information at the person’s request, which must be a clear and unambiguous question. The Queensland Health VAD website provides information or healthcare workers about responding to a person asking about voluntary assisted dying.
The Metro North VAD QHEPS page provides resources for staff including the Metro North Conversation Guide and Information for Healthcare Workers, support services for staff, patients and families, and links to the Metro North VAD policy (007272) and VAD management procedure (007271).
The Queensland Health Voluntary Assisted Dying Website provides a huge range of resources for consumers and all staff members (including The QVAD Handbook).
Eligible medical practitioners interested in becoming authorised VAD practitioners can find more information on the Queensland Health website.
If you have questions that aren’t covered on the QHEPS page or Queensland Health website, you can contact the Metro North VAD team via MetroNorth_VAD@health.qld.gov.au or the Queensland Health QVAD-Support team at 1800 431 371.
Dr Liz Rushbrook
Chief Medical Officer
Emergency Management and Business Continuity