Telehealth consultations for voluntary assisted dying are illegal under Australian law, court finds

Federal court rules that the definition of ‘suicide’ under criminal law applies to VAD

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Telehealth consultations about voluntary assisted dying are illegal, the federal court has ruled in a judgment on an aspect of law that has long been considered a grey area.

The ruling means doctors might face criminal charges for conducting such consultations, as sections of the Commonwealth Criminal Code make it an offence to use a carriage service such as a telephone, videoconference call, or email to counsel or incite someone to suicide.

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