20Health practitioner must accept or refuse to accept

20 Health practitioner must accept or refuse to accept consulting assessment referral (1) Within 4 business days after the day a health practitioner receives a referral under section 19 or section 26, the health practitioner must— (a) decide to accept or refuse to accept the referral; and (b) tell the individual’s coordinating practitioner about the decision. (2) The health practitioner— (a) must refuse to accept the referral if they do not meet the consulting practitioner requirements under section 97 (b) may refuse to accept the referral if they are unable or unwilling to exercise the functions of a consulting practitioner. Note A health practitioner may refuse to accept a referral if they have a conscientious objection (see s 99). (3) As soon as practicable after the health practitioner tells the coordinating practitioner about their decision, the coordinating practitioner must tell the individual about the decision. Division 3.2 Consulting referral, consulting practitioner and consulting assessment