Dying woman urges PM to overturn 'cruel' law to save others suffering
Terminally ill woman Sandra Sarantou is preparing to end her life through voluntary assisted drying (VAD) and is using her final days to call for a legal change to make it easier for others to access VAD.
An Adelaide woman, Sandra Sarantou, diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, is urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to overturn a law she believes is causing unnecessary suffering for others. Sarantou, who will end her life using voluntary assisted dying (VAD) soon, wants the government to allow telehealth consultations for VAD patients, particularly those in regional areas who struggle to travel to receive care.
The current law, a provision in the Commonwealth Criminal Code, prohibits doctors from advising patients about VAD through telephone, email, internet, or video conferencing, effectively limiting access for some Australians. Labor delegates voted at a national conference to amend federal law to permit telehealth for VAD consultations, but Albanese has personally opposed the change.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson Young plans to introduce a similar bill in the Upper House. Sarantou's story underscores the disparities in access to VAD, with 39% of applicants in 2024-25 coming from rural, regional, and remote areas. Despite the potential benefits, Prime Minister Albanese's personal opposition and Attorney-General Michelle Rowland's concerns about elder abuse may hinder the legislative changes needed to make VAD more accessible.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
