Administration of the voluntary assisted dying substance
Administration decision
Once your coordinating doctor has completed the final review you may make an administration decision or you may decide not to make an administration decision. This decision is made in consultation with, and on the advice of, your coordinating doctor.
Your administration decision must be made in person with your coordinating doctor. The Queensland Voluntary Assisted Dying Support Service (QVAD-Support) may assist you with arranging this, if needed.
There are 2 methods:
- self-administration: you administer the voluntary assisted dying substance yourself
- practitioner administration: your administering doctor or nurse administers you the voluntary assisted dying substance.
A practitioner administration decision can only be made if your coordinating doctor advises that self-administration is not suitable for you. To make this decision your coordinating doctor will consider the following:
- your ability to self-administer the substance
- your concerns about self-administering the substance
- which method of administration is most suitable for you.
If a practitioner administration decision is made, an administering doctor or nurse will be appointed.
Your coordinating doctor can be your administering doctor. However, your coordinating doctor can transfer the role to another eligible doctor, nurse practitioner, or registered nurse who must accept or refuse the role. Your coordinating doctor can choose to transfer the role for any reason. They will tell you if this happens.
Your coordinating doctor will give you written information about the substance and administration of the substance.
You can revoke your administration decision
You can revoke your administration decision and make a new administration decision at any time. You can tell your coordinating doctor of your decision in writing, verbally, using gestures or in another way, for example, through a decision aid.
For example, if you make a self-administration decision but lose the ability to physically self-administer the voluntary assisted dying substance, you can revoke your decision and make a practitioner administration decision in consultation with your coordinating doctor. If you later regain your ability, you could decide to revoke your practitioner administration decision and again choose self-administration.
You can also revoke an administration decision at any time, if you do not wish to proceed.
What happens next
If you make an administration decision you must appoint a contact person before a prescription can be written, by your coordinating doctor.
In this guide:
- Administration decision
- Appointing the contact person
- Prescription and supply of the voluntary assisted dying substance
- Administration and death