Regional Australians deserve fair access to VAD

Regional Australians deserve fair access to VAD

Email the Attorney-General

Access to VAD should not depend on your postcode

Patrick, 38 from Central Queensland, had end-stage liver disease. He wanted to die peacefully using voluntary assisted dying (VAD), on his patio with his wife Helena by his side, dogs at his feet and his family behind him.

But his choice was taken away by an outdated federal law which bans electronic communications for VAD, meaning his script had to be sent by post to Brisbane, adding needless delays.

Tragically, this was time Patrick didn't have. He died waiting.

Please help fix this broken law so no other family goes through with Patrick's did.

Access to VAD should not depend on your postcode

Patrick, 38 from Central Queensland, had end-stage liver disease. He wanted to die peacefully using voluntary assisted dying (VAD), on his patio with his wife Helena by his side, dogs at his feet and his family behind him.

But his choice was taken away by an outdated federal law which bans electronic communications for VAD, meaning his script had to be sent by post to Brisbane, adding needless delays.

Tragically, this was time Patrick didn't have. He died waiting.

Please help fix this broken law so no other family goes through with Patrick's did.

Ask the Attorney-General to fix unfair federal ban

Regional Australians don't have the same access to VAD as people in the city.

And it all comes down to one outdated line in a federal law which bans the use of telehealth for VAD - and any other electronic communication (such as phone calls and email).

This is devastating for people in regional areas, who often live thousands of kilometres from their VAD doctors and have to wait weeks to be visited at home or for VAD scripts to be sent by post. Some die waiting.

It's hard enough for dying people and their carers. Why make it even harder?

It's an easy one-line fix. 

Please email the Attorney-General Michelle Rowland - she has the power to make this change.

Top tips

  • Keep your message short and polite
  • Say why you think regional Australians should have fair VAD access
  • If you have terminal illness or have cared for someone who does, explain the reality of trying to get to appointments and how challenging this can be - it seems some politicians don't understand what dying looks like

Key messages

  • Please change the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) so that electronic communications can be used for VAD
  • VAD access should not depend on your postcode
  • Regional Australians have the same right to use VAD as people in the cities
  • Terminally ill people do not have time to waste, so please remove unnecessary delays
  • This is a small fix that costs you nothing but means everything to dying people and their families.

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Email Tips +

Top tips
 
  • Keep your message short and polite
  • Say why you think regional Australians should have fair VAD access
  • If you have terminal illness or have cared for someone who does, explain the reality of trying to get to appointments and how challenging this can be - it seems some politicians don't understand what dying looks like

 

Key messages

 

  • Please change the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) so that electronic communications can be used for VAD
  • VAD access should not depend on your postcode
  • Regional Australians have the same right to use VAD as people in the cities
  • Terminally ill people do not have time to waste, so please remove unnecessary delays
  • This is a small fix that costs you nothing but means everything to dying people and their families.

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