Australian College of Nursing seeks Criminal Code amendments for VAD care

The Australian College of Nursing wrote to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calling for amendments to the Commonwealth Criminal Code. The current code sections risk criminal prosecution and fines exceeding $360,000 for registered health practitioners who deliver lawful voluntary assisted dying care via telehealth. These sections were originally enacted to address online suicide promotion and were not intended to capture VAD care.

The existing legal contradiction prevents healthcare providers from safely discussing VAD care with patients by telephone or responding to remote family inquiries. The Australian College of Nursing argues that federal law should not restrict access to lawful end-of-life care, especially for patients in rural and remote areas.