17Certain persons not to initiate discussions about voluntary assisted dying

### 17 Certain persons not to initiate discussions about voluntary assisted dying > > (1)  A registered health practitioner who provides health services or professional care services to a person must not, in the course of providing the services to the person – > > > > > > (a) initiate discussion with the person that is in substance about the voluntary assisted dying process; or > > > > > > > (b) in substance, suggest to the person that the person may wish to participate in the voluntary assisted dying process > > > (2)  Nothing in [subsection (1)](#GS17@Gs1@EN) prevents a medical practitioner from taking an action referred to in [subsection (1)](#GS17@Gs1@EN) if, at the time of taking the action, the medical practitioner also informs the person about – > > > > > > (a) the treatment options available to the person and the likely outcomes of that treatment; and > > > > > > > (b) the palliative care and treatment options available to the person and the likely outcomes of that care and treatment. > > > (3)  Nothing in [subsection (1)](#GS17@Gs1@EN) prevents a registered health practitioner who is not a medical practitioner from taking an action referred to in [subsection (1)](#GS17@Gs1@EN) in relation to a person if the registered health practitioner, before the conclusion of the discussion, with the person, in which the action is taken, informs the person that a medical practitioner would be the most appropriate person with whom to discuss the voluntary assisted dying process and care and treatment options for the patient. > > > (4)  Nothing in [subsection (1)](#GS17@Gs1@EN) prevents a person from providing to a person, at the person’s request, information about the voluntary assisted dying process. > > > (5)  A contravention of [subsection (1)](#GS17@Gs1@EN) by a registered health practitioner is capable of constituting unprofessional conduct for the purposes of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Tasmania).