21Medical practitioner to accept or refuse first request

#### 21 Medical practitioner to accept or refuse first request 21 Medical practitioner to accept or refuse first request > > (1) If a first request is made to a medical practitioner, the practitioner must decide to— > > > > > (a) accept the request, or > > > > > (b) refuse the request. > > > (2) The only reasons for which the medical practitioner may decide to refuse the first request are that— > > > > > (a) the practitioner has a conscientious objection to voluntary assisted dying or is otherwise unwilling to perform the duties of a coordinating practitioner, or > > > > > (b) the practitioner is unable to perform the duties of a coordinating practitioner because of unavailability or another reason, or > > > > > (c) the practitioner is required to refuse the request under subsection (3). > > > (3) The medical practitioner must immediately decide to refuse the first request if the practitioner is not eligible to act as a coordinating practitioner at the time the first request is made. > > > (4) Unless subsection (5) applies, the medical practitioner must, within 2 business days after the first request is made— > > > > > (a) inform the patient that the practitioner has decided to accept or refuse the request, and > > > > > (b) give the patient the information approved by the Health Secretary, by Gazette notice, for the purposes of this section. > > > (5) If the medical practitioner decides to refuse the first request because the practitioner has a conscientious objection to voluntary assisted dying, the practitioner must, immediately after the first request is made, inform the patient the practitioner has decided to refuse the request.