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.