20Refusal to accept first request

20 Refusal to accept first request

(1)  A medical practitioner to whom a first request is made by a person must refuse under section 19(b) to accept the request if the medical practitioner is not an authorised medical practitioner in relation to the person.

(2)  A medical practitioner to whom a first request is made by a person may refuse under section 19(b) to accept the request for any reason, including, but not limited to, because the medical practitioner has a conscientious objection to providing assistance to the person to die.

(3)  A medical practitioner must, as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any case within 7 days, after refusing to accept a first request from a person under section 19(b)  –

(a) notify the person of the refusal of the first request; and

(b) note, on the medical practitioner’s medical records in relation to the person, that the person has made a first request and that the medical practitioner has refused to accept the request; and

(c) notify the Commission, in the approved form, that the medical practitioner has refused a first request from the person.