Doctors Could Face Criminal Charges for Online Euthanasia Consultations

The judge ruled that euthanasia was the same as suicide under the natural meaning of the law.

A ruling by the Federal Court of Australia has deemed it illegal for doctors to provide online euthanasia consultations. Pixabay

Doctors who provide online euthanasia consultations could face criminal charges after the Federal Court of Australia ruled the service the same as suicide under the law.

In a response to an application from Melbourne general practitioner Nicholas Carr, Justice Wendy Abraham ruled on Nov. 30 that “suicide” under the Commonwealth Criminal Code applied to the ending of a person’s life by “voluntary assisted dying.”