ACTIn ForceAct
Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2024
105Obligation to consider and facilitate transfer of individual
Start here
Get a plain-English read of 105
Turn the raw legal text into a practical explanation grounded in Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2024.
105 Obligation to consider and facilitate transfer of individual
who wants to access voluntary assisted dying
(a) section 104 applies; and
(b) either—
(i) the relevant person is unable to attend the facility at a time
that is acceptable to the individual; or
(ii) the facility operator does not allow the relevant person to
have reasonable access to the individual at the facility in
accordance with section 104.
(2) The facility operator must ask the individual if they want to be
transferred to and from a place to see—
(a) the relevant person (the first relevant person); or
(b) another relevant person if—
(i) the first relevant person is unable to see the individual at a
time or place that is acceptable to the individual; or
(ii) the individual’s deciding practitioner decides that
transferring the individual to and from a place to see the
first relevant person is unreasonable in the circumstances.
Information and access obligations Division 7.2
(3) If the individual, or their agent, tells the facility operator that the
individual wants to be transferred to and from a place to see the first
relevant person or another relevant person, the operator must ask the
individual’s deciding practitioner to decide whether it is reasonable
in the circumstances to transfer the individual to and from a place to
see the person.
(4) The individual’s deciding practitioner must take the following into
account when deciding whether a transfer is reasonable in the
circumstances:
(a) whether the transfer would be likely to cause serious harm to the
individual;
Examples—serious harm
significant pain, a significant deterioration in the individual’s condition
(b) whether the transfer would be likely to adversely affect the
individual’s access to voluntary assisted dying;
Example—adverse effect
the transfer would likely result in a loss of decision-making capacity,
including because of the effects of any pain relief or medication that would
be required for the transfer
(c) whether the transfer would be likely to cause undue delay or
prolonged suffering in accessing voluntary assisted dying;
(d) whether the place where it is proposed the individual would be
transferred to is available to receive the individual;
(e) whether the individual would incur a financial loss or cost
because of the transfer.
(5) The facility operator must, as soon as reasonably practicable,
facilitate the transfer of the individual if—
(a) the deciding practitioner decides that the transfer is reasonable
in the circumstances; and
(b) the individual consents to the transfer.
(6) If the facility operator does not facilitate the transfer in accordance
with subsection (5), the operator must give the board written notice
stating—
(a) the reasons why the transfer did not happen; and
(b) the steps taken by the operator to try to facilitate the transfer.
(7) An offence against subsection (6) is a strict liability offence.