Doctors Could Face Criminal Charges for Online Euthanasia Consultations

Doctors who provide online euthanasia consultations could face criminal charges after the Federal Court of Australia ruled the service the same as suicide under the law.

In a response to an application from Melbourne general practitioner Nicholas Carr, Justice Wendy Abraham ruled on Nov. 30 that "suicide" under the Commonwealth Criminal Code applied to the ending of a person’s life by “voluntary assisted dying.”

This means that it is illegal to provide someone with information on euthanasia—either through telehealth, a phone call, or email—that could encourage them to take their own life, even if it is legal under state law.

“If that communication is undertaken using a carriage service, that would breach the Commonwealth Offence Provisions but be authorised under the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act,” Justice Abraham said.

In his application to the Federal Court, Dr. Carr argued that “suicide” should not apply to “voluntary assisted dying,” as they were two separate forms of death with different meanings.

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