Labor under pressure to allow telehealth access for euthanasia but PM says ‘it should be face-to-face’

Australia's Labor Party is facing pressure to enact changes allowing voluntary assisted dying (VAD) through telehealth services, following a recent decision at its national conference. The party's updated platform now commits to overturning a long-standing law that prohibits medical consultations regarding VAD via telehealth.

Despite the platform change, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has voiced reservations. He believes that VAD, while a right to be exercised with dignity, requires face-to-face interaction to maintain crucial medical safeguards. Albanese expressed concern that telehealth could be misused or undermine the integrity of the VAD system, drawing a parallel to the necessity of in-person consultations for acute health conditions.

While the party platform sets policy direction, its implementation into government legislation is not automatic. Albanese indicated that the cabinet would deliberate on whether to draft new laws, emphasizing that such decisions are made collectively. This stance leaves the timing and certainty of legislative changes uncertain.

In response, the Greens and independent MP Kate Chaney are preparing to introduce private member's bills. These legislative efforts aim to expedite the process and compel the government to address what they describe as a "cruel anomaly." Advocates argue that allowing VAD via telehealth is essential, particularly for individuals in rural and remote areas or those with mobility issues, who currently face significant barriers to accessing lawful medical care.

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It is important that people have the right to die … with dignity. But it’s also important that protections are placed around it. Now, if someone has a heart attack or an acute health condition, they need a doctor. They can’t do that over telehealth. I think someone ending their life is just as important. I think it should be face-to-face recognition and face-to-face engagement. My concern is … the potential for misuse but also the potential it has to undermine the system itself.