Doctors would be allowed to use telehealth to conduct appointments about voluntary assisted dying, and the threshold for who can access euthanasia could be lowered under a crossbench plan to be introduced to Parliament this week.
Victoria’s voluntary assisted dying laws, which came into force in 2019, require two doctors to make an in-person assessment to ensure the patient is of sound mind, and has less than six months to live with a physical illness or 12 months with a neurological condition.
Justice Party MP Stuart Grimley will introduce amendments to remove some of the hurdles faced by people who have been unable to access the scheme.
Mr Grimley hopes the changes will give regional Victorians the option to use euthanasia to end their lives.
[Source: The Age]