THE Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) is urging the government to reform the Commonwealth Criminal Code to allow electronic communication in the delivery of voluntary assisted dying (VAD) care (PD 04 Dec 2023).
The call follows a Federal Court ruling that telehealth consultations about VAD are illegal.
SHPA President Tom Simpson highlighted the urgent need for change, stating, "pharmacists, along with doctors, nurses, and care navigators, should not face unnecessary barriers that impact terminal patients choosing to die with dignity".
Simpson emphasised that the current restrictions, particularly the ban on telehealth, unfairly disadvantage terminally-ill patients, especially those in rural areas.
"This is an unnecessary and inhumane hurdle these patients, their families, and their care teams should not face," he said.
SHPA stated it supports a proposed bill to update the Code and ensure equitable access to VAD services across Australia, advocating for modernised communication methods that reflect medical advancements. JG
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