Challenge a medical treatment decision

We can make a decision about the authority of a medical treatment decision maker or support person.

Under the Medical Treatment Planning and Decisions Act 2016, Victorians can appoint a medical treatment decision maker or support person to help them make decisions about their medical treatment.

You can apply to us to challenge the authority of a medical treatment decision maker or support person.

If you are a medical treatment decision maker or health practitioner, you can also seek advice or direction from us about someone’s medical treatment or their advance care directive.

Who is a medical treatment decision maker?

An adult’s medical treatment decision maker is one of the following:

  • someone formally appointed in the role
  • their guardian (who was appointed by VCAT)
  • their medical agent or their guardian for medical treatment (as the term medical treatment decision maker was known before March 2018)
  • their spouse or domestic partner, primary carer, adult child, parent or adult sibling.

A child’s medical treatment decision maker is their parent, guardian or another person with parental responsibility.

Who is a support person?

A support person is someone who represents another person’s interests about medical treatment. They support a person to make, communicate and help bring about the person’s medical treatment decisions. You must be formally appointed to become someone’s support person.

Who can apply?

Most people can apply including relatives, guardians, health practitioners and social workers.

We may decide to reject an application if we do not believe the applicant has an interest in the affairs of the person that a medical treatment decision is for.

What we can do

  • Confirm or cancel the appointment of a medical treatment decision maker or support person.
  • Review the cancellation of a medical treatment decision maker or support person appointment.
  • Uphold or set aside a medical treatment decision made by a medical treatment decision maker.
  • Change or limit the authority of a medical treatment decision maker.
  • Provide advice to a medical treatment decision maker or health practitioner about the medical treatment of a person.
  • Make any other decision.

What we cannot do

VCAT cannot appoint a medical treatment decision maker or support person on someone’s behalf.

For information on how to appoint someone, contact the Office of the Public Advocate

Cases we can't help with

We can’t accept:

  • some cases where one party lives in another state or is a Commonwealth government organisation
  • cases heard under federal law instead of Victorian law.
Learn more

Documents you need to apply

  • a current medical report which addresses the person’s capacity to make medical treatment decisions – download our medical report template and give this to their medical practitioner.
  • a copy of the medical treatment decision maker appointment or medical enduring power of attorney (if your application is about a medical treatment decision maker appointment)
  • a copy of a support person appointment (if your application is about a support person appointment)
  • a copy of the cancellation of an appointment (if your application is about the cancellation of an appointment)
  • any other documentation to support your case.

Fees

There are no application or hearing fees.

Apply

We can explain the application process and what the form is asking you for. Contact us to get support.

We cannot give you legal advice. This means we cannot tell you what to write in your application or recommend how to get the outcome you want.

Seek legal help if you are unsure about your options or need advice about your claim.

Make an application

Watch our video on how to apply and manage your online application.

Print-friendly application form

Apply online

Do I need a lawyer or professional representative?

You do not need to have legal or other professional representation to appear at VCAT. If you wish to be represented by a lawyer or a professional advocate, usually you must ask for VCAT's permission.

Be aware that the regulatory body in most cases uses legal representation.

Find legal services that may be able to assist you.

Access and privacy

VCAT hearings and files are usually public.

VCAT has limited authority to restrict who can access cases and files but, in certain circumstances, you can apply for confidentiality.

Legislation that applies to this type of case

Organisations that may be able to help you

VCAT can't offer you legal advice. Below are organisations that may be able to help with your case.

Office of the Public Advocate

Advice on guardianship and advocacy matters for Victorians living with a disability. Also undertakes the role of guardian for some Victorians.

https://www.publicadvocate.vic.gov.au/

See more organisations