Victorian Labor MP Emma Vulin, who has motor neurone disease, is calling on the federal government to amend laws that prevent doctors from discussing voluntary assisted dying via telehealth. In a letter to Attorney-General Michelle Rowland, Vulin argued that the current Criminal Code creates an effective barrier to equitable access to voluntary assisted dying, particularly affecting those in rural and regional areas or those unable to travel due to illness.
Under Commonwealth law, doctors using telephone or video consultations to discuss voluntary assisted dying with terminally ill patients could face criminal charges for inciting suicide, even though the practice is legal in every state and the Australian Capital Territory. Vulin described this as an unnecessary barrier and urged reform as a matter of priority.
Advocacy group Go Gentle Australia said the federal telehealth prohibition is at odds with wider national settings, noting a lack of appetite for change at the federal level. Australian Medical Association president Danielle McMullen called for a conversation to align Commonwealth, state and territory laws, stating that a blanket ban on telephone discussions for voluntary assisted dying is not in line with the spirit of legislation across the country.
McMullen emphasized that telehealth could be a helpful adjunct, especially for patients in rural and remote areas who face long distances to access medical care. She noted that some patients are missing out on care due to the current restrictions.
Vulin, who was diagnosed with MND in 2024 and will leave politics this year, has been open about potentially choosing voluntary assisted dying. She previously spoke in parliament using a voice-assistance device, expressing support for Victoria's voluntary assisted dying laws and stressing the importance of equity and timely access to the choice.
