Unlike overseas assisted dying laws, the End of Life Choice Act doesn't require a cooling off before the prescription is written.

The End of Life Choice Act doesn’t require a cooling-off period before the lethal dose is prescribed

An eligible person could receive euthanasia as early as 4 days after being diagnosed with a terminal illness.

The Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Health stated that the minimum timeframe for the process from request to the reporting of the death, would be 4 working days in a hospital setting and a minimum of 15 working days in a residential setting, provided all parties are available [para 271, 271, page 46]

Parliament voted down the safeguard of a 1-week waiting period, and without debating it.

In contrast, the USA #assisteddying laws require 15, 17 or 20 days. Canada requires 10 days. Victoria and Western Australia require 9 days. In Oregon, Canada and Australia the waiting period is waived if the person is expected to die within this period.

The purpose of a built-in waiting period is to help prevent a hasty, emotional decision when a person is in shock from receiving a terminal diagnosis.

References:

– “lethal dose” is in Section 4 of the Act

– No waiting period before making a request, section 11.

– The Ministry of Justice & Ministry of Health confirmed that the process could take as few as 4 working days in a hospital setting and as few as 15 working days in a residential setting.. Departmental Report on the #EndofLifeChoiceBill, par 271, p 46.

– Supplementary Order Paper 308 proposed requiring a second request a week later.

– Oregon, 15 days: Death with Dignity Act, s 3.06.

– Washington, 17 days: Death with Dignity Act, s RCW 70.245.110.

– Vermont, 15 days: Patient Choice and Control at End of Life Act (Act 39), s 5283(2).

– California, 15 days: End of Life Option Act, s 443.3(a).

– Colorado, 15 days: End-of-Life Option Act, s 25-48-104(1).

– District of Columbia, 15 days: Death with Dignity Act of 2016, s 3(a)(1).

– Hawaii, 20 days: Our Care, Our Choice Act, s 2(1).

– New Jersey, 17 days: Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act, s C.26:16-9(10)(6).

– Maine, 17 days: Death with Dignity Act, s 2140(13).

– Victoria, 9 days: Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017, s 38.

– Western Australia, 9 days: Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2019, s 48(1).

– Canada, 10 days: An Act to amend the Criminal Code… (medical assistance in dying) (S.C. 2016, c.3), s 241.2(4)(g)