Voluntary Assisted Dying Support ServiceSupport
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The Queensland Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2021 specifies strict eligibility criteria for accessing voluntary assisted dying support services. Further information can be accessed here .
A person must meet all the eligibility criteria to access voluntary assisted dying including:
- have an eligible condition ,
- is advanced, progressive and will cause death, and
- is expected to cause death within 12 months, and
- is causing suffering that the person considers to be intolerable
The person must also have decision-making capacity, be acting voluntarily and without coercion, be at least eighteen (18) years of age and fulfil residency requirements .
Under the legislation, eligibility must be assessed by the Coordinating or Consulting Practitioner (Medical Officer).
Some people wanting to access voluntary assisted dying will not meet the strict eligibility requirements. Find out how to support people who are ineligible .
Minimum Referral Criteria
If your patient does not meet the minimum referral criteria
- Assessment and management information may be found on a range of conditions at HealthPathways
- If the patient does not meet the criteria for referral but the referring practitioner believes the patient requires specialist review, a clinical override may be requested:
- Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.)
- Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service
Essential Referral Information
- Information regarding patients:
- Diagnosis
- Prognosis
- Symptoms
- Available treatment options and any previous options explored (including palliative care)
- Social circumstances
- Relevant Pathology and radiology that assists to demonstrate diagnosis/prognosis
- Reason for requesting Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) service
- Outline of information given to patient regarding VAD process to date
Additional Referral Information
- Any additional information deemed relevant to assess patient’s eligibility
Out of Scope Services
The following conditions are out of scope for this service:
- Patients who do not meet the eligibility criteria as defined by the Queensland Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2021.
- Patients who have not been a resident in Queensland for at least 12 months immediately before making the first request.
Patient Must Bring
- Medicare card
- Any concession cards (e.g. Pension, Health Care, DVA, PBS Safety Net, ADF, etc.)
- Current medication list
- Reading glasses, hearing and mobility aids
Send Referrals To
Smart Referrals
Preferred Method
About Smart Referrals
Secure Web Transfer
Gold Coast Health Service District
Internal Referrals
Voluntary Assisted Dying Support Service (E-Blueslips)
Fax
Post
Gold Coast University Hospital
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport QLD 4215
Enquiries
Service Availability
Facilities
If you would like to send a named referral, please address it to the specialist listed above, who will allocate a suitably qualified specialist to see the patient. Alternatively, you can view a full list of our specialists.