Independent MP Kate Chaney is concerned that the Federal Court ruling against VAD appointments being conducted via telehealth consultations is forcing people to travel long distances while they are terminally ill or in pain. “Certainly in my state of Western Australia, we have these vast distances to deal with — and so if you’re living in a remote or regional area, it’s pretty hard to get to a specialist in person,” she said.
Her private member’s bill calls on federal parliament to overturn the ban on telehealth consultations for those seeking VAD. Though VAD is legal in six Australian states, there remains this inconsistency between state, territory and Commonwealth laws.
Read more: MP pushes to legalise telehealth consultations on voluntary assisted dying – ABC News