Information for the public

Queensland Health has provided great resources for members of the public looking to access more information about Voluntary Assisted Dying.

Please CLICK HERE to see more.

To stay informed and receive Queensland Health updates on the progress of voluntary assisted dying, please CLICK HERE.

Information for healthcare professionals

Queensland Health has provided clinical guidelines and procedures for healthcare professionals wanting information on Voluntary Assisted Dying.

Please CLICK HERE to see more.

We have also provided an information kit for medical specialists, GPs and nurse practitioners. Please CLICK HERE to see more.

The Queensland Voluntary Assisted Dying Handbook (QVAD Handbook) assists healthcare workers, health services and others to

 understand their roles and responsibilities, and supports compliance with the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2021 (the Act).

Read the Queensland Voluntary Assisted Dying Handbook (PDF 2759 kB).

DWDQ is concerned that insufficient numbers of GPs will become VAD providers. Following are some reasons for this:

• GPs are under more pressure now than in the last 20 years. Covid and this bad flu season are the last straw. Experienced GPs are leaving general practice and junior doctors are not taking up training places.
• The training required needs to be reasonable. The Tasmanian version is excellent. It informs the doctor of any incorrect answers so they can try again and have a good chance of passing.
• GPs should be paid for their time to do the training and there must be a payment schedule for their time assessing and administering VAD. There is no current provision in Medicare for VAD. Charging dying patients or relying on doctor's altruism are equally ludicrous.
• The Carriage Act interferes with the doctors' training. Some of which will have to be sent by snail mail. This is particularly important in rural and remote settings where recruitment will already be extremely difficult.

We encourage you to talk to your own doctor(s), politely questioning them that, if the need would arise with you, if they would help with VAD. Also please ask if they would consider becoming VAD certified. The process to become certified is being constructed now and is likely to be ready by the end of the year.

For patient information click here.