Support Kate Chaney's Bill

Support Kate Chaney's Bill

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Support the Voluntary Assisted Dying Telehealth Bill today

Kate Chaney has introduced a private member’s Bill to deal with the “telehealth problem” that is seriously impeding the operation of state Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) laws. 

What is the problem?

VAD is now lawful in all Australian states, yet the Commonwealth Criminal Code prevents people from promoting suicide using a carriage service. Late in 2023, the Federal Court found that this included online VAD consultations. This means doctors are at risk of being prosecuted if they use telehealth to discuss VAD with patients. This is a problem that the States ...

Support the Voluntary Assisted Dying Telehealth Bill today

Kate Chaney has introduced a private member’s Bill to deal with the “telehealth problem” that is seriously impeding the operation of state Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) laws. 

What is the problem?

VAD is now lawful in all Australian states, yet the Commonwealth Criminal Code prevents people from promoting suicide using a carriage service. Late in 2023, the Federal Court found that this included online VAD consultations. This means doctors are at risk of being prosecuted if they use telehealth to discuss VAD with patients. This is a problem that the States have been asking the Commonwealth to fix for at least 5 years. 

What can be done?

Kate’s Bill makes a simple change to the Criminal Code, by making it clear that VAD is not suicide. However, if this Bill does not get to a vote in the coming weeks it will be too late. 

Please take a few minutes and send a message to your federal MPs asking that they ensure this Bill does get debated and that they support its passage.

You can use the text already suggested in the action section on the right or use some of the talking points below to personalise your message.

Talking points

  • Support for this issue does not divide along party lines. It is important that a conscience vote on this Bill be allowed. 
  • This is a major problem with a simple solution.
  • Practitioners of VAD remain at risk of prosecution unless the Criminal Code is changed.
  • Because of the constraints on the use of Telehealth, doctors and patients may have to travel long distances, greatly increasing the suffering involved for the terminally ill. 
  • Suicide is the act of a desperate person who sees no way out of a desperate life. VAD is a rational decision by a person who is already dying, who chooses a peaceful death over intolerable suffering within the framework of an existing law.
  • The change sought in the VAD Telehealth Bill has the backing of the states, medical professionals, academics and patient advocate groups. 

 


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You can add to the message using these points or your own

  • Support for this issue does not divide along party lines. It is important that a conscience vote on this Bill be allowed. 
  • This is a major problem with a simple solution.
  • Practitioners of VAD remain at risk of prosecution unless the Criminal Code is changed.
  • Because of the constraints on the use of Telehealth, doctors and patients may have to travel long distances, greatly increasing the suffering involved for the terminally ill. 
  • Suicide is the act of a desperate person who sees no way out of a desperate life. VAD is a rational decision by a person who is already dying, who chooses a peaceful death over intolerable suffering within the framework of an existing law.
  • The change sought in the VAD Telehealth Bill has the backing of the states, medical professionals, academics and patient advocate groups. 

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