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32+ Free Medical Travel Form Templates (PDF, MS Word)

A medical travel form template can help simplify requesting permission to travel with a medical condition. This handy tool helps doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals quickly communicate with airlines and provide needed details. It also contains suggestions on properly transporting medicines, oxygen supplies, and other necessary items to make the journey comfortable and safe.

Table of Contents

With a medical travel form, travelers will have peace of mind in knowing that their health needs are met even when away from home. So, the next time you plan on taking a long trip, consider using it for added convenience.

Download Free Medical Travel Form Templates

Blank Medical Travel Reimbursement Form

Client Reimbursement Request Medical Transportation

Emergency Travel Medical Form

Health Benefits Medical Transportation Request Form

Medical Access Transportation Claim Form

Medical Certificate Claim Form PDF

Medical Information Before Traveling By Air

Medical Information Form for Travel

Medical Services And Travel Claim Form

What is a medical travel form.

A Medical Travel Form is a tool used to track the vaccinations, medications, and other health information that is necessary for individuals traveling internationally. This form is a document used by healthcare providers and government institutions to establish if travelers have the proper immunizations or if additional medical care may be needed. It is also used to prevent the potential spread of disease in foreign countries.

This form should also include an individual’s current medical history and contact information, as it can help ensure adequate care abroad. With this document, travelers can rest assured they are taking all the necessary steps to stay as healthy as possible while traveling.

Medical Transportation Assistance Claim Form

Medical Transportation Client Reimbursement Form

Medical Travel & Transportation Expense Form

Medical Travel Expense Claim Form

Medical Travel Insurance Claim Form

Medical Travel Refund Request Form

Types of medical travel forms.

When you’re planning on traveling while managing a health condition, you may need to fill out some specialized forms from your doctor or healthcare provider. These forms can help ensure you have the necessary medication and access to treatment in an emergency. Here are some different types of medical travel forms.

Travel Consent Form

When traveling with someone else, such as a parent or guardian, they may need to sign a consent form that permits you to receive medical care while away from home. This form is usually provided by the doctor or healthcare provider treating you, and both parties must sign it before your trip. It’s important to ensure that this form is filled out correctly so that potential medical issues can be addressed quickly and easily.

Medical Travel Reimbursement Form

Non-Emergency Medical Travel Request Form

Medical Travel Subsidy Form

Pre-Travel Risk Assessment Form

Travel and Accommodation Assistance for Donors

Travel And Accommodation Reimbursement Claim Form

Medical history form.

A medical history form details your health condition and any medications or treatments you are currently taking. This form should include information about any allergies or adverse reactions you have had in the past and any pre-existing conditions. It’s important to fill out this form accurately so that doctors can provide appropriate care during your travels.

Medical Treatment Authorization Form

If there is a chance that you will require medical care during your travels, it’s wise to get a medical treatment authorization form from your doctor or healthcare provider beforehand. This document will authorize a designated person (such as a parent or guardian) to make decisions about your care if necessary while away from home. It’s important to ensure that all information included on the form is accurate so that no delays occur when it is time for treatment.

Travel Health Assessment Form

Travel Health Claim Form

Travel Medical Information Form

Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme

Reasons for using a medical travel form.

Medical travel forms are invaluable for ensuring important medical information travels with you, whether for a vacation or a business trip. Not only do medical travel forms allow you to include both regular and emergency information, such as your medication list, allergies, and blood type, but they can also be used to provide specific details like the name of your doctor or current medical condition.

Keeping a travel form easily accessible during long trips could make all the difference if a medical emergency should arise. Additionally, having this vital information organized in one place can give hospitals new or out-of-network doctors quick access to your important medical history. So take the time to create a medical travel form, and rest assured that your health is protected when you’re away from home.

How to Create a Medical Travel Form Template

Creating a medical travel form template for your practice can help streamline preparing for long-distance travel. It is important to ensure the safety and well-being of your staff and patients abroad, which requires careful planning and preparation. By designing a custom medical travel form template, you can ensure all necessary information is included, and nothing is overlooked.

Questionnaire Questions

When creating a medical travel form template, including questions leading to accurate patient profiles is important. Questions should include health history, current medications, allergies, dietary needs, mobility issues, etc. Having this information handy will help you determine if any additional precautions need to be taken when traveling with patients or staff who may have special requirements or restrictions. Additionally, you can use this data to create an itinerary tailored specifically to each individual’s needs.

Emergency Preparedness

It is also important to include emergency preparedness in your medical travel form. This includes items such as contact information of local healthcare providers at the destination country or city (if available), emergency evacuation procedures in case of natural disaster or illness while abroad, insurance coverage details, etc. Ensuring all these elements are included in the form will help ensure everyone is prepared for any situation during their travels.

Medical Supplies Checklist

Last but certainly not least is your medical supplies checklist. Your checklist should include prescription medications and other essential supplies needed for treatment or care while abroad. Including this list in your form template ensures that all necessary supplies are accounted for before departure so there are no surprises at the last minute. You can also reference lists from different specialty organizations or guidelines from governing bodies such as WHO or CDC when creating your checklist to ensure that everything has been covered properly.

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Patient travel assistance

The Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS) provides financial assistance for patients who are referred to specialist medical services not available at their local public hospital or health facility.

Eligible patients are able to apply for a subsidy to assist with travel and accommodation costs of accessing specialist medical services.

Patients approved for PTSS will receive a subsidy to attend the closest public hospital or health facility where the specialist medical treatment is available. Patients travelling to access private specialist services may be eligible for a subsidy if the service is not available within 50 kilometres of the patient’s closest public hospital or health facility.

For more information about PTSS please visit the PTSS website or contact your local Travel Service Team.

Connect With Us

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• Queensland Health
• Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme resources

PTSS Form A - Patient Registration - Online version

• Go to resource

URL: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/services/travel/subsidies/assets/docs/patient-registration-form-a

Use this online form to register with the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS). If you are already registered with the PTSS and your details have not changed you do not need to re-register. If your details have changed since you registered, use this form to update them.

Additional Information

Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS)

On this page, key messages, vptas claim form, translations of vptas guidelines and feedback documents now available, what is the vptas process, eligibility for vptas, contribute the first $100 each treatment year, travel assistance, accommodation, who can be an approved patient escort, the vptas claim form must be completed by an approved medical specialist, lodge the vptas claim form.

• The Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS) provides financial assistance to eligible Victorians who must travel a long way for specialist medical treatment.
• VPTAS is a subsidy scheme and not intended to reimburse all costs associated with accessing specialist treatment.
• To be eligible, patients must live in a designated rural area and travel 100km one way or 500km per week to see a medical specialist. Full eligibility list and exclusions listed below.
• An approved medical specialist or authorised officer must sign the claim form.
• Payment of claims can take up to 6-8 weeks from receipt. All sections of the claim form must be fully completed to ensure your claim is able to be assessed.
• Please contact the VPTAS office on 1300 737 073 or [email protected] if you have any questions.

The VPTAS claim form is available for downloading below.

To receive direct payment by electronic funds transfer (EFT) of approved VPTAS transport and accommodation subsidies, a claimant's bank account information needs to be filled out in Section E of the claim form.

The Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme's (VPTAS) guidelines and feedback policies are now available for download in 11 different community languages.

VPTAS guidelines

Translated resources are available at Health Translations External Link .

VPTAS feedback: complaints, compliments and reviews policy

To receive VPTAS assistance patients need to take the following steps:

• Check you are eligible.
• Understand what assistance is available.
• Review the claim form to understand and collect the necessary information.
• Fill in the VPTAS claim form.
• Have the VPTAS claim form signed by an approved medical specialist.
• Send the VPTAS form and required receipts/invoices to the VPTAS office.

The VPTAS guidelines provide details on eligibility. In summary, to be eligible for VPTAS patients must:

• be a Victorian resident
• live in a Department of Health & Human Services designated rural health region
• be receiving specialist medical treatment from a medical practitioner registered with Medicare Australia and recognised as a specialist in a particular specialty under the Health Insurance Act 1973 (Cwlth) as per Schedule 4 of the Health Insurance Regulations 1975
• need to travel more than 100 kilometres one way or an average of 500 kilometres a week for one or more weeks (travel distances can be determined using the Google® maps Get Directions function).

Patients are not eligible for VPTAS if they:

• participate in clinical trials or experimental treatments for medical research studies
• live in states or territories other than Victoria (unless they are a living organ donor to a Victorian patient)
• are away from their permanent place of residence when the treatment episode begins, such as when on holidays or while visiting friends or family either within Victoria or interstate
• are undertaking a journey to or from outside Australia for medical treatment
• are accessing allied health (for example, audiology, physiotherapy, podiatry, speech therapy)
• are accessing general practitioner (GP) services
• are eligible to claim assistance under another state or territory or from a registered benefit organisation including the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
• were injured in a motor vehicle accident and are covered by the Transport Accident Commission
• were injured at work and are covered by WorkSafe
• have received or claimed by way of compensation, damages or other payment in respect to the illness or injury being treated.

The scheme has a contribution threshold of $100 for non concession card holders. This contribution threshold is an administrative process that is applied at the start of each treatment year. Once this contribution threshold has been reached, non-concession card holder will be eligible to receive subsidy payments. A treatment year starts from the date of the first appointment with a specialist. There is no contribution threshold for concession card holders.

People who are eligible for travel support will receive:

• 21 cents per kilometre if a private car is used
• full economy-class fare reimbursements for public transport
• air travel reimbursement - only if the journey exceeds 350 kilometres one way and a commercial flight is used
• taxi travel reimbursement - only to or from the nearest public transport when there are no other transport options.

Only the direct route to and from the person's home address is covered. Any other travel is not included. Google® maps Get Directions is used to determine the total eligible travel distance.

Travelling by public transport

People who are travelling by public transport and using a myki card should register their myki with Public Transport Victoria. They can access their travel history online and print a tax invoice statement of travel, which can be included with their VPTAS claim form.

Travel is subsidised to the nearest specialist

The person's GP is expected to provide a referral to the closest specialist available. If they choose to travel to a different specialist, the subsidies will be worked out as if they were seeing the closest specialist.

Applicants may be able to receive accommodation assistance up to a maximum of $45.00 per night ($49.50 including GST). This may be available to the applicant and their approved escort if:

• they stay in commercial accommodation - that is, any accommodation that is registered as a business and has an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• the specialist completes the VPTAS claim form stating the number of nights of accommodation required
• the specialist approves that partner or carer can accompany the applicant (they must be 18 years of age or older).

When a patient is eligible for VPTAS, an approved patient escort is responsible for the patient’s transport and accommodation needs during treatment.

For further information regarding escorts, please refer to the VPTAS assessment guidelines below.

Section C of the VPTAS claim form is to be filled out by an approved medical specialist or an authorised officer on their behalf.

Who is an approved medical specialist?

An approved medical specialist is a medical practitioner registered with Medicare Australia and recognised as a specialist in a particular speciality under the Health Insurance Act 1973 (Cwlth) as per Schedule 4 of the Health Insurance Regulations 1975.

Who is an authorised officer?

An authorised officer is an individual who works with/for the approved medical specialist and can confirm the patient’s details and the approved medical specialist services received. An authorised officer can be a registrar, resident medical officer, intern, nurse, social worker, ward clerk or administration staff such as a receptionist. The authorised officer can sign a VPTAS claim form on behalf of the medical specialist. The medical specialist’s details must be provided.

Claimants should lodge the VPTAS claim by:

• submitting the completed VPTAS claim form no later than 12 months from the date of the first listed approved medical specialist service
• providing original receipts or tax invoices for travel and accommodation (petrol receipts are not required)
• completing the travel and accommodation diary within the claim form
• ensuring all information provided is true and correct
• making sure the medical specialist’s details are correctly completed on the claim form and the specialist or their authorising officer has signed the claim form.
• Mail claim form and original receipts to GPO Box 4057 Melbourne, VIC 3001

The claim lodgement date is the date the VPTAS office receives the completed claim form. The applicant should keep a photocopy of all receipts and documents, including the completed VPTAS claim form. Processing time and payment takes approximately six to eight weeks from the claim lodgement date. Payment will be made via electronic funds transfer (EFT) into the provided bank account detailed in Section E of the VPTAS claim form.

VPTAS Feedback - Complaints, compliments and reviews policy

VPTAS Feedback - Complaints, compliments and reviews policy provides assistance and advice for VPTAS consumers wishing to register a complaint, compliment or seeking a review of the outcome of their VPTAS claim form processing

Reviewed 21 March 2024

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Further information is available for patients wishing to apply to access the scheme by contacting the Patient Travel team in Townsville

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For more information contact our Patient Travel team Phone:   (07) 4433 1115 Email: {"ct":"eCnvJKn40mjGSYq1vUGp8aF8TxP8jXGlWiOMf4vipZNzZ\/5KopsaLpaI\/BUtk6eq","iv":"346dc1fe3f2de0f995aa9282b14feb6f","s":"26f7352742bfb299"}

Alternatively further information is available for patients wishing to apply to access the scheme by contacting 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) or on the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme website here . 

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Travelling to your healthcare appointment

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• Living in a regional or remote areas can mean that access to medical treatment is more challenging, as you might need to travel long distances.
• Planning ahead can help to reduce the cost of long distance travel.
• Patient assisted travel schemes (PATS) are available in each state or territory to help rural and remote community members access necessary and approved medical specialist services that are not locally available.
• Private health insurers offer travel and accommodation benefits under hospital cover, but not all health funds offer these benefits.
• Telehealth and other technologies can help reduce the need to travel in some situations.

How can I plan ahead?

If you live in rural or remote Australia, your treatment options may be limited and getting medical treatment may mean travelling long distances. This can be complicated and costly.

If you work, go to school or have other regular commitments, let your manager or teacher know you will be away. They may need to find someone to cover you while you're away.

If you care for a child or someone else, you may need to arrange for their care while you are away. You may also need to continue this extra support after your return, while you recover.

For routine household tasks, ask a friend, neighbour or family member to help:

• look after your pets or plants
• collect your mail
• pay your bills for you

Remember to take everything you need to your appointment. This includes admission forms, details of medicines or dietary supplements you are taking, test results, x-rays, scans, or medical reports.

What should I consider before I travel?

You may need to access extra support and services for your travel, stay and recovery. Before you travel, you should consider the following:

• Am I okay to travel alone?
• Will I need a carer or support person?
• What forms do I need to be signed by my medical team before I go?
• Will I need extra help on my trip home?
• What are my access requirements? Will my travel choices and accommodation suit my needs before and after my medical treatment? This may include: The width of the hallway, room dimensions including bathroom, height of the bed and available parking.
• Can my transport provider accommodate any equipment I need, such as a wheelchair or walking aid?

Tips from rural community members when travelling for healthcare

• Try to organise several appointments for one trip.
• If possible, make appointments at a time that suit your family and work needs.
• If you're not feeling well or if there is a possibility of receiving unwelcome news, ask a friend to drive, or consider staying overnight if you need to drive yourself.
• Take pillows to rest your arm or head in the car/plane/bus.
• Contact a support group or person near your treating hospital or clinic.

What should I consider after I travel?

Learning as much as possible about your recovery can help you to prepare what you will need after your treatment. Ask your doctor about your recovery time and what support is available. You might be eligible for home support services, depending on your state, age and health.

Read more about care options here:

• My Aged Care
• Carer Gateway
• What care do I need?

If you are living with a specific health condition or disability, you may be able to get more detailed information online or from local groups or associations. For example, the Breast Cancer Network Australia offers support in rural areas , and provides online video communication with home when travelling for treatment, through the stay in touch program .

Financial assistance for travel for healthcare

Accommodation and travel expenses can be costly. You may be eligible for help to ease this financial burden.

Patient Assisted Travel Schemes (PATS)

All states and territories have Patient Assisted Travel Schemes (PATS) to help eligible patients in rural and remote Australia with the costs of travel These can help you access specialist medical services not available locally.

Rules and amounts vary, but all PATS schemes help cover:

• travel expenses for public transport
• accommodation costs at your destination
• travel expenses and accommodation costs of your eligible support person or carer

Some schemes also cover some costs of:

• ground transport costs at your destination (for example, taxis)
• living away from home
• accommodation
• costs for trips by private car
• extra journeys for your support person or carer, if your stay is long
• subsidies for private accommodation

Read about PATS support in your state or territory:

• ACT: Interstate Patient Travel Assistance Scheme
• Northern Territory: Patient Assistance Travel Scheme
• NSW: Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme
• Queensland: Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme
• South Australia: Patient Assistance Transport Scheme
• Tasmania: Patient Travel Assistance Scheme
• Western Australia: Patient Assisted Travel Scheme and Interstate Patient Travel Scheme
• Victoria: Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme

Private health insurance

Private health insurers now offer travel and accommodation benefits under hospital cover. These private health insurance benefits generally cover:

• petrol costs for travel by car
• train, bus or air fares
• accommodation costs near the place of treatment for the patient and a carer

Not all health funds offer these benefits. If you have a health fund, check your policy to see what is included. Be aware that cover varies between health funds and policies.

Other support services

The following organisations may offer help with travel for healthcare:

• Australian Red Cross
• Angel Flight Australia
• Royal Flying Doctor Service
• Department of Veterans' Affairs

These organisations provide help with accommodation:

• Ronald McDonald House
• Country Women's Association

Read more here about rural and remote health services and support.

What options do I have if I prefer not to travel?

You might be able to avoid travelling for medical treatment or care, thanks to technology and advances in healthcare delivery.

Telehealth services

Telehealth services use video conferencing technology. This means you can talk with a healthcare professional via your computer, tablet or phone and see their image on the screen.

Your doctor might ask your permission to record video, audio or other health information. They can then forward it securely to other medical specialists, who can review it and provide an opinion. Telehealth services can also be used to remotely monitor patients, if required.

Telehealth services save travel time and costs. They can be a less stressful option than travelling a long distance for healthcare. Medicare benefits are often available — check with your health team if they offer telehealth, and if it is right in your situation.

Video Call , developed by Healthdirect Australia, allows healthcare providers to have video consultations, using your smartphone, tablet or desktop computer. This private and secure service connects you with your healthcare professional from a location convenient to you, such as your home or work.

Telehealth services can also be a convenient way for carers or translators or interpreters to be involved in healthcare conversations.

If your doctor or medical centre doesn't offer telehealth consultations, you can use the healthdirect service finder to find a provider.

Depending on your needs, ask your healthcare team if you can:

• reduce the number of appointments that require travel
• use your local health service more, instead of travelling for treatment
• access any outreach services in your area

Resources and Support

See healthdirect's online Question Builder for help putting together a list of questions for your health team. If you have a long or difficult journey to reach your doctor, it is especially important to be well prepared, so you can make the most of your visit.

Read more about healthcare options and Australia's healthcare system.

Look for specific rural and remote health services for your state or territory:

• New South Wales rural and remote health services
• Northern Territory rural and remote health services
• Queensland rural and remote health services
• South Australia rural and remote health services
• Tasmania rural and remote health services
• Victoria rural and remote health services
• Western Australia rural and remote health services

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content .

Last reviewed: July 2023

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How to organise transport to and from hospital

It depends if it's an emergency or not.

In an emergency

In a medical emergency, call 999 and ask for an ambulance. You will not have to pay to be taken to hospital in an emergency.

A medical emergency is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

Read about when to call 999 .

Non-emergency hospital visits

You'll normally be expected to make your own way to hospital if it's not an emergency.

Hospital parking can be expensive and limited, and you may not be able to leave your car there overnight. So you may want to ask a friend or relative to take you to hospital and collect you after you've been discharged.

You can search for your local hospital to check its parking facilities.

Non-emergency patient transport services

Some people are eligible for non-emergency patient transport services (PTS). These services provide free transport to and from hospital for people including:

• those whose condition means they need additional medical support during their journey
• those who find it difficult to walk
• parents or guardians of children who are being transported

PTS may not be available in all areas. To find out if you're eligible for PTS and how to access it, you'll need to speak to your GP or the healthcare professional who referred you to hospital.

Claiming for hospital transport costs

You may be able to claim for the cost of transport to hospital through the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) if you're referred for specialist NHS treatment or tests.

Read more about the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) , including who's eligible, what the conditions are and how to make a claim.

Page last reviewed: 15 May 2023 Next review due: 15 May 2026

Republish This Story

Traveling To Die: The Latest Form of Medical Tourism

Disponible en Español

In the 18 months after Francine Milano was diagnosed with a recurrence of the ovarian cancer she thought she’d beaten 20 years ago, she traveled twice from her home in Pennsylvania to Vermont. She went not to ski, hike, or leaf-peep, but to arrange to die.

“I really wanted to take control over how I left this world,” said the 61-year-old who lives in Lancaster. “I decided that this was an option for me.”

Dying with medical assistance wasn’t an option when Milano learned in early 2023 that her disease was incurable. At that point, she would have had to travel to Switzerland — or live in the District of Columbia or one of the 10 states where medical aid in dying was legal .

But Vermont lifted its residency requirement in May 2023, followed by Oregon two months later. (Montana effectively allows aid in dying through a 2009 court decision , but that ruling doesn’t spell out rules around residency. And though New York and California recently considered legislation that would allow out-of-staters to secure aid in dying, neither provision passed.)

Despite the limited options and the challenges — such as finding doctors in a new state, figuring out where to die, and traveling when too sick to walk to the next room, let alone climb into a car — dozens have made the trek to the two states that have opened their doors to terminally ill nonresidents seeking aid in dying.

At least 26 people have traveled to Vermont to die, representing nearly 25% of the reported assisted deaths in the state from May 2023 through this June, according to the Vermont Department of Health. In Oregon, 23 out-of-state residents died using medical assistance in 2023, just over 6% of the state total, according to the Oregon Health Authority .

Oncologist Charles Blanke, whose clinic in Portland is devoted to end-of-life care, said he thinks that Oregon’s total is likely an undercount and he expects the numbers to grow. Over the past year, he said, he’s seen two to four out-of-state patients a week — about one-quarter of his practice — and fielded calls from across the U.S., including New York, the Carolinas, Florida, and “tons from Texas.” But just because patients are willing to travel doesn’t mean it’s easy or that they get their desired outcome.

“The law is pretty strict about what has to be done,” Blanke said.

As in other states that allow what some call physician-assisted death or assisted suicide, Oregon and Vermont require patients to be assessed by two doctors. Patients must have less than six months to live, be mentally and cognitively sound, and be physically able to ingest the drugs to end their lives. Charts and records must be reviewed in the state; neglecting to do so constitutes practicing medicine out of state, which violates medical licensing requirements. For the same reason, the patients must be in the state for the initial exam, when they request the drugs, and when they ingest them.

State legislatures impose those restrictions as safeguards — to balance the rights of patients seeking aid in dying with a legislative imperative not to pass laws that are harmful to anyone, said Peg Sandeen, CEO of the group Death With Dignity . Like many aid-in-dying advocates, however, she said such rules create undue burdens for people who are already suffering.

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Diana Barnard, a Vermont palliative care physician, said some patients cannot even come for their appointments. “They end up being sick or not feeling like traveling, so there’s rescheduling involved,” she said. “It’s asking people to use a significant part of their energy to come here when they really deserve to have the option closer to home.”

Those opposed to aid in dying include religious groups that say taking a life is immoral, and medical practitioners who argue their job is to make people more comfortable at the end of life, not to end the life itself.

Anthropologist Anita Hannig , who interviewed dozens of terminally ill patients while researching her 2022 book, “ The Day I Die: The Untold Story of Assisted Dying in America ,” said she doesn’t expect federal legislation to settle the issue anytime soon. As the Supreme Court did with abortion in 2022, it ruled assisted dying to be a states’ rights issue in 1997.

During the 2023-24 legislative sessions, 19 states (including Milano’s home state of Pennsylvania) considered aid-in-dying legislation, according to the advocacy group Compassion & Choices . Delaware was the sole state to pass it , but the governor has yet to act on it.

Sandeen said that many states initially pass restrictive laws — requiring 21-day wait times and psychiatric evaluations, for instance — only to eventually repeal provisions that prove unduly onerous. That makes her optimistic that more states will eventually follow Vermont and Oregon, she said.

Milano would have preferred to travel to neighboring New Jersey, where aid in dying has been legal since 2019, but its residency requirement made that a nonstarter. And though Oregon has more providers than the largely rural state of Vermont, Milano opted for the nine-hour car ride to Burlington because it was less physically and financially draining than a cross-country trip.

The logistics were key because Milano knew she’d have to return. When she traveled to Vermont in May 2023 with her husband and her brother, she wasn’t near death. She figured that the next time she was in Vermont, it would be to request the medication. Then she’d have to wait 15 days to receive it.

The waiting period is standard to ensure that a person has what Barnard calls “thoughtful time to contemplate the decision,” although she said most have done that long before. Some states have shortened the period or, like Oregon, have a waiver option.

That waiting period can be hard on patients, on top of being away from their health care team, home, and family. Blanke said he has seen as many as 25 relatives attend the death of an Oregon resident, but out-of-staters usually bring only one person. And while finding a place to die can be a problem for Oregonians who are in care homes or hospitals that prohibit aid in dying, it’s especially challenging for nonresidents.

When Oregon lifted its residency requirement, Blanke advertised on Craigslist and used the results to compile a list of short-term accommodations, including Airbnbs, willing to allow patients to die there. Nonprofits in states with aid-in-dying laws also maintain such lists, Sandeen said.

Milano hasn’t gotten to the point where she needs to find a place to take the meds and end her life. In fact, because she had a relatively healthy year after her first trip to Vermont, she let her six-month approval period lapse.

In June, though, she headed back to open another six-month window. This time, she went with a girlfriend who has a camper van. They drove six hours to cross the state border, stopping at a playground and gift shop before sitting in a parking lot where Milano had a Zoom appointment with her doctors rather than driving three more hours to Burlington to meet in person.

“I don’t know if they do GPS tracking or IP address kind of stuff, but I would have been afraid not to be honest,” she said.

That’s not all that scares her. She worries she’ll be too sick to return to Vermont when she is ready to die. And, even if she can get there, she wonders whether she’ll have the courage to take the medication. About one-third of people approved for assisted death don’t follow through, Blanke said. For them, it’s often enough to know they have the meds — the control — to end their lives when they want.

Milano said she is grateful she has that power now while she’s still healthy enough to travel and enjoy life. “I just wish more people had the option,” she said.

Related Topics

• Rural Health
• Aid In Dying
• Pennsylvania

Copy And Paste To Republish This Story

By Debby Waldman August 20, 2024

In the 18 months after Francine Milano was diagnosed with a recurrence of the ovarian cancer she thought she’d beaten 20 years ago, she traveled twice from her home in Pennsylvania to Vermont. She went not to ski, hike, or leaf-peep, but to arrange to die.

“I really wanted to take control over how I left this world,” said the 61-year-old who lives in Lancaster. “I decided that this was an option for me.”

Dying with medical assistance wasn’t an option when Milano learned in early 2023 that her disease was incurable. At that point, she would have had to travel to Switzerland — or live in the District of Columbia or one of the 10 states where medical aid in dying was legal .

But Vermont lifted its residency requirement in May 2023, followed by Oregon two months later. (Montana effectively allows aid in dying through a 2009 court decision , but that ruling doesn’t spell out rules around residency. And though New York and California recently considered legislation that would allow out-of-staters to secure aid in dying, neither provision passed.)

Oncologist Charles Blanke, whose clinic in Portland is devoted to end-of-life care, said he thinks that Oregon’s total is likely an undercount and he expects the numbers to grow. Over the past year, he said, he’s seen two to four out-of-state patients a week — about one-quarter of his practice — and fielded calls from across the U.S., including New York, the Carolinas, Florida, and “tons from Texas.” But just because patients are willing to travel doesn’t mean it’s easy or that they get their desired outcome.

“The law is pretty strict about what has to be done,” Blanke said.

Diana Barnard, a Vermont palliative care physician, said some patients cannot even come for their appointments. “They end up being sick or not feeling like traveling, so there’s rescheduling involved,” she said. “It’s asking people to use a significant part of their energy to come here when they really deserve to have the option closer to home.”

Anthropologist Anita Hannig , who interviewed dozens of terminally ill patients while researching her 2022 book, “ The Day I Die: The Untold Story of Assisted Dying in America ,” said she doesn’t expect federal legislation to settle the issue anytime soon. As the Supreme Court did with abortion in 2022, it ruled assisted dying to be a states’ rights issue in 1997.

During the 2023-24 legislative sessions, 19 states (including Milano’s home state of Pennsylvania) considered aid-in-dying legislation, according to the advocacy group Compassion & Choices . Delaware was the sole state to pass it , but the governor has yet to act on it.

The logistics were key because Milano knew she’d have to return. When she traveled to Vermont in May 2023 with her husband and her brother, she wasn’t near death. She figured that the next time she was in Vermont, it would be to request the medication. Then she’d have to wait 15 days to receive it.

The waiting period is standard to ensure that a person has what Barnard calls “thoughtful time to contemplate the decision,” although she said most have done that long before. Some states have shortened the period or, like Oregon, have a waiver option.

That waiting period can be hard on patients, on top of being away from their health care team, home, and family. Blanke said he has seen as many as 25 relatives attend the death of an Oregon resident, but out-of-staters usually bring only one person. And while finding a place to die can be a problem for Oregonians who are in care homes or hospitals that prohibit aid in dying, it’s especially challenging for nonresidents.

Milano hasn’t gotten to the point where she needs to find a place to take the meds and end her life. In fact, because she had a relatively healthy year after her first trip to Vermont, she let her six-month approval period lapse.

“I don’t know if they do GPS tracking or IP address kind of stuff, but I would have been afraid not to be honest,” she said.

That’s not all that scares her. She worries she’ll be too sick to return to Vermont when she is ready to die. And, even if she can get there, she wonders whether she’ll have the courage to take the medication. About one-third of people approved for assisted death don’t follow through, Blanke said. For them, it’s often enough to know they have the meds — the control — to end their lives when they want.

Milano said she is grateful she has that power now while she’s still healthy enough to travel and enjoy life. “I just wish more people had the option,” she said.

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Unfinished and Abandoned Khovrino Hospital in Moscow

2 Comments · Posted by Sergei Rzhevsky in Cities , Photos

Khovrino Abandoned Hospital (also known as Umbrella) is a huge building located in the north of Moscow in the Khovrino District. The building area is 100 thousand square meters, the total land area – 2.4 hectares.

Construction of the hospital began in 1980. However, after five years of construction, it was suspended in 1985. From that moment on, the hospital remained unfinished and abandoned. October 23, 2018, the demolition of the building began. Khovrino Abandoned Hospital on Google Maps . Photos by: Alexander Popov .

The layout of the eleven-floor building is original and differs from similar buildings of the Soviet period. The hospital is made in the form of a three-beam star with branches at the ends.

Ophthalmologic building.

The hospital, designed for 1,300 beds, is made in the style of brutalism, which is characterized by massiveness, the use of reinforced concrete and rough forms. Due to unfinished construction in some places there are no fragments of walls and interfloor overlappings. The basements of the building are flooded.

The construction was stopped because the building began to literally go under the ground as the hospital was standing on a swampy land. The basements of the building were soon flooded with groundwater and cracks in the walls appeared.

For many years, this abandoned building attracted stalkers, extreme tourists, paintball players, and just curious teenagers. There were a large number of accidents and dozens of crimes here.

Tags:  Abandoned · Moscow city

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Anonymous · November 27, 2023 at 11:24 pm

Hey. Is this complex still abandoned?

Author comment by Sergei Rzhevsky · November 28, 2023 at 2:54 pm

In November 2018, work on dismantling the structures of the Khovrino hospital building was completed. As of November 2023, several large residential buildings are being built on the site of the demolished hospital. You can see them by clicking on the link to Google Maps at the beginning of the article.

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