The Federal Court has ruled conversations about voluntary assisted dying (VAD) must not occur via telehealth.
The 30 November ruling means there is no current delineation in federal law between VAD and suicide – that is, if doctors use telecommunications to transmit information to patients about VAD they could be found in breach of the Commonwealth Criminal Code Act and face criminal charges.
At this time, healthcare providers should not use telehealth for any matters, or even conversations, relating to VAD.
If this presents an issue for your patients, contact the NSW Voluntary Assisted Dying Care Navigator Service which will connect patients to a NSW employed VAD Visiting Medical Officer (VMO) in any area across the state.
We will keep you updated with any additional information as it becomes available.