{"id":"qld:sl-2022-0118","name":"Voluntary Assisted Dying Regulation 2022","slug":"voluntary-assisted-dying-regulation-2022","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"qld","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"118 of 2022","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":173810,"registerId":"qld-sl-2022-0118-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"pt.1","sectionType":"part","heading":"Preliminary","content":"# Preliminary","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"sec.1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Short title","content":"### sec.1 Short title\n\nThis regulation may be cited as the Voluntary Assisted Dying Regulation 2022 .","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"sec.2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"### sec.2 Commencement\n\nThis regulation commences on 1 January 2023.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"pt.2","sectionType":"part","heading":"Prescribing, supplying and disposing of voluntary assisted dying substance","content":"# Prescribing, supplying and disposing of voluntary assisted dying substance","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"sec.3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Other requirements for prescribing— Act , s 67","content":"### sec.3 Other requirements for prescribing— Act , s 67\n\nThis section prescribes other requirements for section 67 of the Act .\nThe coordinating practitioner must state the following information on the prescription for the voluntary assisted dying substance—\nthe coordinating practitioner’s name;\nthe place where the coordinating practitioner usually practices;\nthe coordinating practitioner’s phone number;\nthe date the prescription is issued;\nthe address of the person who is accessing voluntary assisted dying.\nThe coordinating practitioner must sign the prescription.\n(sec.3-ssec.1) This section prescribes other requirements for section 67 of the Act .\n(sec.3-ssec.2) The coordinating practitioner must state the following information on the prescription for the voluntary assisted dying substance— the coordinating practitioner’s name; the place where the coordinating practitioner usually practices; the coordinating practitioner’s phone number; the date the prescription is issued; the address of the person who is accessing voluntary assisted dying.\n(sec.3-ssec.3) The coordinating practitioner must sign the prescription.\n- (a) the coordinating practitioner’s name;\n- (b) the place where the coordinating practitioner usually practices;\n- (c) the coordinating practitioner’s phone number;\n- (d) the date the prescription is issued;\n- (e) the address of the person who is accessing voluntary assisted dying.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"sec.4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Labelling requirements for voluntary assisted dying substance— Act , s 71","content":"### sec.4 Labelling requirements for voluntary assisted dying substance— Act , s 71\n\nThis section prescribes labelling requirements for section 71 of the Act .\nThe authorised supplier must attach a label to the outside of the container or package of the voluntary assisted dying substance stating the following information—\nthe name, address and telephone number of the place where the authorised supplier supplied the substance;\nthe approved name or brand name of the substance;\nthe form and strength of the substance;\nthe total quantity of the substance in the container or package;\nthe words ‘keep out of reach of children’ in red capital letters on a white background;\nthe name of the person who is accessing voluntary assisted dying;\nthe unique identifying number given to the prescription for the supply of the substance by the authorised supplier;\nthe date the substance is supplied;\nthe date on which the substance is due to expire.\nAlso, the authorised supplier must attach another label to the outside of the container or package of the voluntary assisted dying substance stating the following information—\nthat the purpose of the dose of the substance is to cause death;\nthat the substance must be stored in accordance with the Act ;\nthat any unused or remaining substance must be disposed of in accordance with the Act .\nA word required under subsection (2) or (3) to be written on a label must—\nbe written in the English language; and\nbe written in letters that are at least 1.5mm in height; and\nfor a word other than a word mentioned in subsection (2) (e) —be written in a colour that provides a distinct contrast to the background colour.\nIn this section—\napproved name see the Poisons Standard, part 1 .\n(sec.4-ssec.1) This section prescribes labelling requirements for section 71 of the Act .\n(sec.4-ssec.2) The authorised supplier must attach a label to the outside of the container or package of the voluntary assisted dying substance stating the following information— the name, address and telephone number of the place where the authorised supplier supplied the substance; the approved name or brand name of the substance; the form and strength of the substance; the total quantity of the substance in the container or package; the words ‘keep out of reach of children’ in red capital letters on a white background; the name of the person who is accessing voluntary assisted dying; the unique identifying number given to the prescription for the supply of the substance by the authorised supplier; the date the substance is supplied; the date on which the substance is due to expire.\n(sec.4-ssec.3) Also, the authorised supplier must attach another label to the outside of the container or package of the voluntary assisted dying substance stating the following information— that the purpose of the dose of the substance is to cause death; that the substance must be stored in accordance with the Act ; that any unused or remaining substance must be disposed of in accordance with the Act .\n(sec.4-ssec.4) A word required under subsection (2) or (3) to be written on a label must— be written in the English language; and be written in letters that are at least 1.5mm in height; and for a word other than a word mentioned in subsection (2) (e) —be written in a colour that provides a distinct contrast to the background colour.\n(sec.4-ssec.5) In this section— approved name see the Poisons Standard, part 1 .\n- (a) the name, address and telephone number of the place where the authorised supplier supplied the substance;\n- (b) the approved name or brand name of the substance;\n- (c) the form and strength of the substance;\n- (d) the total quantity of the substance in the container or package;\n- (e) the words ‘keep out of reach of children’ in red capital letters on a white background;\n- (f) the name of the person who is accessing voluntary assisted dying;\n- (g) the unique identifying number given to the prescription for the supply of the substance by the authorised supplier;\n- (h) the date the substance is supplied;\n- (i) the date on which the substance is due to expire.\n- (a) that the purpose of the dose of the substance is to cause death;\n- (b) that the substance must be stored in accordance with the Act ;\n- (c) that any unused or remaining substance must be disposed of in accordance with the Act .\n- (a) be written in the English language; and\n- (b) be written in letters that are at least 1.5mm in height; and\n- (c) for a word other than a word mentioned in subsection (2) (e) —be written in a colour that provides a distinct contrast to the background colour.","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"sec.5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Other requirements for supplying— Act , s 73","content":"### sec.5 Other requirements for supplying— Act , s 73\n\nThis section prescribes other requirements for section 73 of the Act .\nThe authorised supplier must not supply the voluntary assisted dying substance if the prescription for the substance was issued more than 6 months before the day the substance is to be supplied.\nAlso, the authorised supplier must not supply the voluntary assisted dying substance in accordance with a prescription for the substance if a voluntary assisted dying substance (the previously supplied substance ) has already been supplied for the person named in the prescription.\nHowever, subsection (3) does not apply if the previously supplied substance—\nhas been disposed of by an authorised disposer or the administering practitioner for the person; or\nis in the possession of an authorised disposer or the administering practitioner for the person.\nThe authorised supplier must keep the prescription for the voluntary assisted dying substance for at least 2 years after the day the substance was supplied.\ns 5 amd 2024 SL No. 92 s 24\n(sec.5-ssec.1) This section prescribes other requirements for section 73 of the Act .\n(sec.5-ssec.2) The authorised supplier must not supply the voluntary assisted dying substance if the prescription for the substance was issued more than 6 months before the day the substance is to be supplied.\n(sec.5-ssec.3) Also, the authorised supplier must not supply the voluntary assisted dying substance in accordance with a prescription for the substance if a voluntary assisted dying substance (the previously supplied substance ) has already been supplied for the person named in the prescription.\n(sec.5-ssec.4) However, subsection (3) does not apply if the previously supplied substance— has been disposed of by an authorised disposer or the administering practitioner for the person; or is in the possession of an authorised disposer or the administering practitioner for the person.\n(sec.5-ssec.5) The authorised supplier must keep the prescription for the voluntary assisted dying substance for at least 2 years after the day the substance was supplied.\n- (a) has been disposed of by an authorised disposer or the administering practitioner for the person; or\n- (b) is in the possession of an authorised disposer or the administering practitioner for the person.","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"sec.6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Storage of voluntary assisted dying substance— Act , s 74","content":"### sec.6 Storage of voluntary assisted dying substance— Act , s 74\n\nThis section prescribes requirements for section 74 of the Act .\nThe person must store the voluntary assisted dying substance in a box—\nthat is not easily penetrable; and\nthat is lockable with a lock of sturdy construction.\nThe person must immediately lock the box and keep the box locked unless the voluntary assisted dying substance is being prepared, administered or disposed of.\n(sec.6-ssec.1) This section prescribes requirements for section 74 of the Act .\n(sec.6-ssec.2) The person must store the voluntary assisted dying substance in a box— that is not easily penetrable; and that is lockable with a lock of sturdy construction.\n(sec.6-ssec.3) The person must immediately lock the box and keep the box locked unless the voluntary assisted dying substance is being prepared, administered or disposed of.\n- (a) that is not easily penetrable; and\n- (b) that is lockable with a lock of sturdy construction.","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"sec.7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Other requirement for disposal— Act , s 79","content":"### sec.7 Other requirement for disposal— Act , s 79\n\nFor section 79 of the Act , the authorised disposer or administering practitioner must personally destroy the voluntary assisted dying substance or any unused or remaining substance.\nIn this section—\ndestroy , a voluntary assisted dying substance or unused or remaining substance, means dispose of the substance in a way that renders it unusable and unidentifiable by any person.\n(sec.7-ssec.1) For section 79 of the Act , the authorised disposer or administering practitioner must personally destroy the voluntary assisted dying substance or any unused or remaining substance.\n(sec.7-ssec.2) In this section— destroy , a voluntary assisted dying substance or unused or remaining substance, means dispose of the substance in a way that renders it unusable and unidentifiable by any person.","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"pt.3","sectionType":"part","heading":"Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board","content":"# Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board","sortOrder":9},{"sectionNumber":"sec.8","sectionType":"section","heading":"Function of board to record and keep information— Act , s 117","content":"### sec.8 Function of board to record and keep information— Act , s 117\n\nFor section 117 (1) (d) of the Act , the following information is prescribed—\nthe number of people assessed, whether as eligible or ineligible, for access to voluntary assisted dying in a first assessment;\nthe number of people assessed, whether as eligible or ineligible, for access to voluntary assisted dying in a consulting assessment;\nfor each person assessed in a first assessment—\nthe sex of the person; and\nthe age of the person; and\nthe region where the person lives;\nfor each person assessed as eligible to access voluntary assisted dying in a first assessment and consulting assessment—the disease, illness or medical condition with which the person has been diagnosed;\nthe number of completed requests for voluntary assisted dying, as defined under section 117 (2) of the Act ;\nfor each completed request for voluntary assisted dying—\nwhether the person has died, and if so, whether the person died—\nfollowing self-administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance; or\nfollowing the administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance by an administering practitioner; or\nwithout the administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance; or\nwhether the request was discontinued;\nfor each person who has made a final request—the period between the first request and the final request;\nthe number of medical practitioners who have been involved in requests for, or the provision of, voluntary assisted dying;\nthe number of nurse practitioners who have been involved in the provision of voluntary assisted dying;\nthe number of nurses who have been involved in the provision of voluntary assisted dying.\n- (a) the number of people assessed, whether as eligible or ineligible, for access to voluntary assisted dying in a first assessment;\n- (b) the number of people assessed, whether as eligible or ineligible, for access to voluntary assisted dying in a consulting assessment;\n- (c) for each person assessed in a first assessment— (i) the sex of the person; and (ii) the age of the person; and (iii) the region where the person lives;\n- (i) the sex of the person; and\n- (ii) the age of the person; and\n- (iii) the region where the person lives;\n- (d) for each person assessed as eligible to access voluntary assisted dying in a first assessment and consulting assessment—the disease, illness or medical condition with which the person has been diagnosed;\n- (e) the number of completed requests for voluntary assisted dying, as defined under section 117 (2) of the Act ;\n- (f) for each completed request for voluntary assisted dying— (i) whether the person has died, and if so, whether the person died— (A) following self-administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance; or (B) following the administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance by an administering practitioner; or (C) without the administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance; or (ii) whether the request was discontinued;\n- (i) whether the person has died, and if so, whether the person died— (A) following self-administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance; or (B) following the administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance by an administering practitioner; or (C) without the administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance; or\n- (A) following self-administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance; or\n- (B) following the administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance by an administering practitioner; or\n- (C) without the administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance; or\n- (ii) whether the request was discontinued;\n- (g) for each person who has made a final request—the period between the first request and the final request;\n- (h) the number of medical practitioners who have been involved in requests for, or the provision of, voluntary assisted dying;\n- (i) the number of nurse practitioners who have been involved in the provision of voluntary assisted dying;\n- (j) the number of nurses who have been involved in the provision of voluntary assisted dying.\n- (i) the sex of the person; and\n- (ii) the age of the person; and\n- (iii) the region where the person lives;\n- (i) whether the person has died, and if so, whether the person died— (A) following self-administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance; or (B) following the administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance by an administering practitioner; or (C) without the administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance; or\n- (A) following self-administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance; or\n- (B) following the administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance by an administering practitioner; or\n- (C) without the administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance; or\n- (ii) whether the request was discontinued;\n- (A) following self-administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance; or\n- (B) following the administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance by an administering practitioner; or\n- (C) without the administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance; or","sortOrder":10}],"analysis":{"summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulation stays squarely within its intended purpose: providing the operational detail to support the parent Voluntary Assisted Dying Act. It covers prescription requirements, labelling, supply controls, storage, disposal, and data collection — all anticipated supporting functions for a VAD legislative scheme. There is no evidence of scope creep beyond what a regulation of this type would ordinarily cover."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple defined roles (coordinating practitioner, authorised supplier, authorised disposer, administering practitioner) that must be understood in context of the parent Act","Cross-references to specific sections of the parent Voluntary Assisted Dying Act, meaning the regulation cannot be fully understood in isolation","Layered supply restrictions with conditional exceptions (e.g. re-supply rules depend on the status of a previously supplied substance)","Detailed and prescriptive technical requirements (label font size, colour contrast, letter height minimums)","Statistical data collection requirements involve multi-level categorisation of outcomes","Reference to external standard (Poisons Standard, part 1) for definition of 'approved name'"],"plain_english_summary":"## What This Law Does\n\nThis regulation sets out the **practical rules** for how voluntary assisted dying (VAD) — the legal process allowing terminally ill people to end their own life with medical assistance — works in Queensland. It commenced on 1 January 2023.\n\nIt covers three main areas:\n\n### 1. 📋 Writing the Prescription\nWhen a doctor (called the \"coordinating practitioner\") writes a prescription for the VAD substance (the medication used to cause death), they must include specific details: their name, practice location, phone number, the date, and the patient's address. They must also sign it.\n\n### 2. 💊 Packaging and Supplying the Substance\nThe pharmacy or other authorised supplier must:\n- **Label the package clearly** with the supplier's details, drug name, strength, quantity, expiry date, patient's name, and a prescription reference number\n- **Include a second label** explicitly stating the substance is intended to cause death, and that any leftovers must be stored and disposed of properly\n- **Not fill a prescription** more than 6 months old\n- **Not supply a second lot** of the substance unless the first has already been disposed of or returned\n- **Keep the prescription on file** for at least 2 years\n- **Store the substance** in a sturdy, lockable box — and keep it locked at all times except when it's being prepared, given, or disposed of\n\n### 3. 🗑️ Disposing of Leftovers\nAny unused substance must be **personally destroyed** by an authorised person — meaning it must be made completely unusable and unidentifiable.\n\n### 4. 📊 Tracking and Oversight\nA special oversight body (the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board) must collect detailed statistical data, including:\n- How many people applied, were approved, or were rejected\n- Basic demographics (age, sex, region) of applicants\n- What illnesses people had\n- Whether people died by self-administering or with practitioner help, or died without using the substance at all\n- How many doctors, nurse practitioners, and nurses were involved\n\n### Who Does This Affect?\n- **Patients** accessing VAD — their medication will be clearly labelled and securely stored\n- **Doctors and nurse practitioners** involved in the process — they have specific paperwork and handling obligations\n- **Pharmacists/authorised suppliers** — strict labelling, supply, and record-keeping rules apply\n- **The general public** — the oversight data helps ensure the system is being used appropriately and transparently"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: operationalising the parent Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2021 by setting out administrative and technical requirements for medication handling, storage, and oversight reporting. No scope creep is evident."},"complexity_factors":["Straightforward prescriptive provisions with minimal conditional logic","Only 1 defined term ('approved name' referencing external standard)","Simple structure: Part 1 (preliminary), Part 2 (substance handling), Part 3 (reporting)","Limited cross-referencing — primarily references back to specific sections of the parent Act","No nested exceptions or complex definitional chains","Clear, itemised lists for prescription requirements, labelling, and data collection","Amendment history visible (2024 amendment to section 5) but doesn't complicate the current text"],"plain_english_summary":"This regulation sets out the practical rules for how voluntary assisted dying (VAD) medications are handled and tracked in Queensland. It covers:\n\n**For doctors and pharmacists:**\n- **Prescriptions** must include specific details like the doctor's contact information, the patient's address, and the doctor's signature.\n- **Supply rules** — medications can't be supplied if the prescription is more than 6 months old, and generally can't be supplied twice for the same person unless the first supply was properly disposed of.\n- **Labelling** — strict requirements for what must appear on medication packaging, including warnings like \"keep out of reach of children\" in red letters, the patient's name, expiry dates, and a clear statement that the substance is intended to cause death.\n\n**For patients:**\n- **Storage** — the medication must be kept in a locked, sturdy box at all times except when actually being prepared, taken, or disposed of.\n\n**For disposal:**\n- **Destruction** — any unused medication must be personally destroyed (made completely unusable and unidentifiable) by an authorised disposer or the administering practitioner.\n\n**For oversight:**\n- **Data collection** — the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board must collect detailed statistics including demographics of applicants, medical conditions, outcomes (whether the person died by self-administration, practitioner administration, or natural causes), and involvement of different health professionals.\n\nThis regulation essentially operationalises the main VAD Act by specifying the paperwork, safety protocols, and record-keeping required to ensure the system is safe, accountable, and transparent."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/voluntary-assisted-dying-regulation-2022","history":"/api/acts/voluntary-assisted-dying-regulation-2022/history","analysis":"/api/acts/voluntary-assisted-dying-regulation-2022/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/voluntary-assisted-dying-regulation-2022/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/voluntary-assisted-dying-regulation-2022/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/voluntary-assisted-dying-regulation-2022/documents"}}