Complaints procedure

The complaints regulations state that complaints cannot be lodged about the substance of a review committee’s findings or the grounds on which they are based. Complaints may be lodged only about the actions of a review committee, individual members of a committee and persons who work for a review committee.

Who can lodge a complaint?

Article 6 of the complaints regulations lists the persons who may lodge a complaint: notifying physicians, independent physicians, pathologists and other health professionals in so far as they are involved in or have an interest in a particular notification of termination of life on request or assisted suicide as referred to in the Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide (Review Procedures) Act.

Against whom can complaints be lodged?

Article 7 states that complaints may be lodged against a review committee concerning its treatment of the complainant. A complaint may be directed against a review committee as a whole or against one or more review committee members or persons who work for the committee. A complaint about a committee may also concern the actions of former members or employees of a review committee, as long as the limitation period has not yet expired.

How long is the limitation period?

Article 8 states the following. Complaints must be lodged no later than one year after the complainant became aware or could reasonably be expected to have become aware of the actions to which the complaint pertains.