澳大利亚政府与反对党联合否决了跨党派议员凯特·钱尼提出的允许远程医疗用于自愿辅助死亡（VAD）的法案，投票结果为74比12[1]。尽管该措施在上月工党全国代表大会上获得强力支持，但总理阿尔巴内塞对此持强烈反对态度[1]。卫生部长马克·巴特勒表示，他"不确信当前的远程医疗安排特别适合现在的VAD。它们在许多方面不适当"[1]。
支持该动议的12名议员包括8名其他独立议员、绿党议员伊丽莎白·沃森-布朗和One Nation的戴维·法利[1]。钱尼指出，支持者包括澳大利亚医学协会、法律委员会、VAD监管机构、20个卫生组织以及各州司法部长和卫生部长[1]。工党全国代表大会曾决议支持移除远程医疗禁令，"作为合法获得自愿辅助死亡的一部分……同时维持适当的临床保障"[1]。绿党议员莎拉·汉森-扬将在本周在参议院提出私人议员法案[1]。
The Australian government has rejected a cross-party bill that would allow telehealth services for voluntary assisted dying (VAD), citing insufficient safeguards in remote medical consultations.[1] The rejection came despite strong endorsement of removing the telehealth ban at the Labor Party's national conference last month, which called for the prohibition to be lifted "as part of lawful access to voluntary assisted dying... whilst maintaining appropriate clinical safeguards."[1]
Independent MP Kate Chaney's motion was defeated 74 to 12 in parliament, with the government and opposition parties voting together against it.[1] Health Minister Mark Butler expressed reservations about the suitability of current telehealth arrangements for VAD cases, stating: "I'm not satisfied that current telehealth arrangements are particularly appropriate for VAD at the moment. They are inappropriate in a number of respects..."[1] The 12 supporters of Chaney's proposal included eight other independent MPs, Greens MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown, and One Nation's David Farley.[1]
Chaney highlighted that her position is backed by the Australian Medical Association, the Law Council, the VAD regulator, 20 health organizations, and state attorneys-general and health ministers.[1] The issue will continue in the upper house, where Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young plans to introduce a private member's bill this week.[1]
