32Medical practitioner to accept or refuse referral for consulting assessment

32 Medical practitioner to accept or refuse referral for consulting assessment

32 Medical practitioner to accept or refuse referral for consulting assessment

(1) If a patient is referred to a medical practitioner for a consulting assessment under section 31, 42 or 175(6)(a), the practitioner must decide to accept or refuse the referral.

(2) The reasons for which the medical practitioner may decide to refuse the referral are that—

(a) the practitioner has a conscientious objection to voluntary assisted dying or is otherwise unwilling to perform the duties of a consulting practitioner, or

(b) the practitioner is unable to perform the duties of a consulting practitioner because of unavailability or some other reason, or

(c) the practitioner is required to refuse the referral under subsection (3).

(3) The medical practitioner must decide to refuse the referral if the practitioner is not eligible to act as a consulting practitioner.

(4) Unless subsection (5) applies, the medical practitioner must, within 2 business days after receiving the referral, inform the patient and the patient’s coordinating practitioner that the practitioner has decided to—

(a) accept the referral, or

(b) refuse the referral.

(5) If the medical practitioner decides to refuse the referral because the practitioner has a conscientious objection to voluntary assisted dying, the practitioner must, immediately after receiving the referral, inform the patient and the patient’s coordinating practitioner that the practitioner has decided to refuse the referral.