Sydney archbishop asks Australia news outlet to investigate its euthanasia coverage

Archbishop Anthony Fisher, OP, of Sydney has demanded an investigation from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) over its coverage of calls to lift the federal ban on using telehealth and other carriage services for voluntary assisted dying (VAD), as euthanasia and assisted suicide are termed in Australian law.

The Australian reported that in a letter to the ABC ombudsman, Fiona Cameron, he claimed the national broadcaster had breached its own guidelines on impartiality.

He asked the ombudsman whether its platforms “operated to amplify one side of a contentious policy debate."

VAD is legal throughout Australia apart from the Northern Territory, which is expected to pass enabling legislation soon.

However, a federal law banning advice about committing suicide over the phone or internet also bans telehealth consultations for VAD.

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VAD advocate Andrew Denton — a former ABC television host, comedian, and founder of Go Gentle Australia — has campaigned to have the ban overturned.

Fisher cited four occasions in nine days in July when Denton promoted his views on ABC platforms. Three of them…