South Australia pushes federal change to allow telehealth for assisted dying

South Australia’s Labor government has become the first state to publicly request a federal change allowing telehealth consultations for voluntary assisted dying (VAD). In a letter addressed to Attorney-General Michelle Rowland, senior ministers, including Health Minister Blair Boyer and Attorney-General Kyam Maher, urged an amendment to the criminal code’s definition of “suicide” so that VAD care is excluded. They argue that the current prohibition forces patients in regional, rural and remote areas to travel for face-to-face appointments, sometimes resulting in death before access.

This move directly opposes Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has voiced personal concerns about coercion and elder abuse if telehealth replaces in-person assessments. The appeal follows an ALP national conference motion endorsing the removal of telehealth restrictions, even as the federal government recently blocked a VAD telehealth bill championed by independent MP Kate Chaney. While the Australian Medical Association backs the change, some doctors, such as geriatrician Mark Yates, caution that remote consultations could increase risks of abuse and make detection harder.