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.”

This means that it is illegal to provide someone with information on euthanasia—either through telehealth, a phone call, or email—that could encourage them to take their own life, even if it is legal under state law.

“If that communication is undertaken using a carriage service, that would breach the Commonwealth Offence Provisions but be authorised under the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act,” Justice Abraham said.

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