VOL 33 NO 1 MARCH 2016 ISSN 1321-0599

NEWSLETTER OF THE SOUTH AUSTRALIA VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA SOCIETY INC. (SAVES) ‘The right to die is as inviolable as the right to life’. Sir Mark Oliphant

A new VE Bill presented to SA or an employee of a residential facility where Parliament the person lives The Voluntary Euthanasia Bill 2016 was • The attending doctor and a second doctor presented to the SA House of Assembly confirm that there are no further treatment on February 11th 2016 by the Hon Steph options acceptable to the person Key (Labor), member for Ashford. Debate on the Bill was adjourned until the 10th • Both doctors confirm that at the time of March. Approximately 45 SAVES members making the request, the person is able to witnessed the introduction of the Bill from understand the information presented to them the parliamentary gallery. It is the 14th time a about their medical condition, treatment Voluntary Euthanasia Bill has been presented to options and the risks associated with the South Australian Parliament since 1995. [See voluntary euthanasia timeline and context of legislative activity 1995- • Both doctors confirm the person is not acting 2013 at http://www.saves.asn.au/timeline.pdf] under any form of duress In this latest version the person seeking • Both doctors confirm that the person making voluntary euthanasia would need to meet the the request is of sound mind, and if there following strict criteria in order for either a is any doubt, the person is referred for a doctor to administer a drug or for the person to psychiatric report self-administer a drug: • A delay of 48 hours is required from when • The person determines that their suffering the person and first doctor complete the is both unbearable and hopeless, as defined request procedure before euthanasia can take in the Bill. [Determining whether a person’s place suffering is unbearable is necessarily subjective and need not meet an objective • The request may be revoked at any time standard. The person’s suffering will be taken to be hopeless if there is no reasonably • A doctor who assists a person either with available medical treatment that would euthanasia or self- administration must reduce suffering to a level bearable to the provide a report to the Coroner. person. The nature, availability and potential In each parliamentary sitting week in 2015, and effectiveness of such treatment is to be continuing this year, SAVES has sent state MPs determined objectively]. one of a range of concise newsletters covering • The person makes a request for euthanasia relevant issues for deliberation in respect of law using the prescribed form reform. This is to provide important evidence- based information concerning the issue of • The request is witnessed by an adult person voluntary euthanasia, and to help dispel wide- who is not a medical practitioner involved spread misinformation. These newsletters are in the request, a direct beneficiary in the made available on SAVES’ home page. SAVES person’s estate, and not the owner or operator Bulletin or ‘mail-outs’ will continue to update readers on the progress of this legislation. 1 : Coroners’ Office offers evidence Bequests to SAVES on ‘non-preventable’ suicide A bequest to SAVES is a significant gift furthering the primary aim of the society to In Victoria the Government’s ‘Parliamentary achieve law reform allowing choice for voluntary Inquiry into End of Life Choices’, established in euthanasia. 2015, has received a total of 1012 submissions and heard from hundreds of witnesses. The The appropriate wording for the gift of a specific report is due to be presented to parliament on sum is I bequeath to the South Australian 31st May. Voluntary Euthanasia Society Inc. the sum of $..... Of particular interest in this inquiry was In the unlikely event that you wish to leave evidence from the Victorian Coroner that many your entire estate to SAVES it would read I suicides referred to the office were elderly give, devise and bequeath the whole of my real people killing themselves; often in horrific and personal estate to the South Australian ways. Between 2005 and 2012 there were 197 Voluntary Euthanasia Society Inc. such deaths in Victoria alone, which have been Thank you classified as five distinct groups under the category ‘non-preventable’ suicides. These are cases where extensive medical intervention over National news years had not altered inevitable decline, and suffering was not mediated by available medical : Cross-party working care. They included: group • People with terminal diseases such as cancer In October 2015 a NSW cross-party Parliamentary Working Group on Assisted • Those with multiple severe medical Dying (PWGAD) was established with the conditions that are not immediately terminal aim of preparing a Bill in the Upper House to legalise voluntary assisted-dying. It is a cross- • People living with severe degenerative party coalition between the Nationals, Greens, diseases such as Parkinsons Disease Labor and Liberal MPs which provides a • Those experiencing uncontrolled pain for an much stronger base than a single party. While extended period of time legislation for voluntary euthanasia is a state jurisdiction, Greens Senator Richard Di Natale • People with serious injury where there is no will introduce the “Dying with Dignity Medical effective ongoing treatment Services” Bill in the first half of this year. It is Mental health issues were not considered a the Federal Government that has jurisdiction for factor, and most people were strongly supported the provision of medical services. Federal MPs by family, and had made enduring requests to who have stated their in-principle support for die on multiple occasions. The Coroner did not voluntary assisted-dying include Deputy Labor explicitly argue for choice for voluntary assisted- leader Tanya Plibersek, Shadow Treasurer Chris dying, except to state that after reading all the Bowen, and Member for Fraser, Dr Andrew evidence it was difficult to conclude other than Leigh. that this is a reasonable option for some people Important notice to elect. When making payments to SAVES through EFT please ensure that you include full details of your name and contact details.

Thank you

2 MARCH 2016

Andrew Denton: advocate for Just a reminder… choice in dying SAVES public meetings are held twice-yearly at 2.15 pm on Sunday afternoons at the Box As an interviewer, comedian and producer, Factory 59 Regent St South, Adelaide. Andrew Denton’s contribution to Australian public and intellectual life has, according to These are important forums for updating the Wheeler Centre, been characterised by ‘its members on SAVES’ activities, legislative issues intelligence, its irreverence and its abiding sense and relevant local, national and international events and initiatives. of humanity’. The Wheeler Centre in conducts hundreds of public events annually. Guest speakers provide further interest, as well During 2016 Andrew Denton will investigate as to informal discussion over tea and coffee. stories, moral arguments and individuals The next meeting is highlighted on page 11 concerning the ways in which people are dying bad deaths in Australia in the absence of Make a diary note now! protective laws. Denton explained his interest in this important social issue in an interview on Push to overturn the Euthanasia Laws Radio National on 17th November 2015: Act 1997 My dad used to joke that he wanted to go [die] On December 2nd 2015 the Liberal Democrats by walking into the shallow end of a swimming Senator David Leyonhjelm put forward a Bill pool filled with single malt whiskey – and just to repeal the Euthanasia Laws Act 1997; also keep walking. Sadly that never happened…. referred to as the ‘Andrews Act’. This overturned Watching him die remains the most profoundly the NT Rights of the Terminally Ill (ROTI) Act shocking experience of my life. With my sisters, I 1995 and also banned the ACT, Norfolk Island stood helplessly by as death picked up this strong and the Northern Territory from ever legislating man and shook him out until he was nothing. to allow voluntary euthanasia. While the proposed Bill would not reinstate the ROTI Act, Andrew Denton will conduct a series of its success would signify to the territories that podcasts in a series entitled ‘Better Off Dead’ they have legal jurisdiction for drafting their own (link below). In the 2015 Wheeler Centre Di voluntary euthanasia laws. Gribble Argument Andrew Denton discussed his investigation into the provision of voluntary euthanasia internationally. He attended the May Professor Ian Maddocks 2015 anti-euthanasia conference held in Adelaide Emeritus Professor Ian Maddocks, Australia’s [discussed in SAVES July 2015 Bulletin] to try first Professor of Palliative Care, former Senior to understand opponents’ underlying objections. Australian of the Year, and resident of North He found that: Brighton, outlined the case for respectful At its heart lay two key accusations: that the consideration of voluntary euthanasia in The safeguards don’t work; and that the elderly Monthly magazine (Feb 2016). He proposed and disabled were threatened. I took careful that proponents of palliative care should join note of it all, then took off overseas to see if forces with advocates of assisted dying and, their warnings held true…What I found was with mutual respect, to ensure the delivery of almost the exact opposite of what I’d been told: enabling laws. Prof Maddocks particularly noted long-running systems, based on years of open the need for ‘compassionate consideration for research and debate, with multiple safeguards, those outside the setting of major disease and and overwhelming acknowledgement that they imminent death’: as acknowledged in the criteria work, from across the spectrum – the public, for the recently introduced Voluntary Euthanasia medical bodies, and political parties of every Bill 2016. hue.

3 In responding to purported threats to ‘vulnerable’ It now includes access to a new, free scholarly people Denton argues: journal: the Journal of Assisted Dying. This was launched on January 2nd 2016 and focuses on After all, who could be more vulnerable than end-of-life ethics, decision-making and practice. those in unbearable suffering or in the last It is ‘dedicated to careful and holistic analysis stages of a terminal disease? Who could be of evidence in regard to the various forms of more abandoned than those begging for help assisted dying that are lawful in a number of from whom opponents of these laws would turn jurisdictions around the world... and to practices away? Whose lives could be less valued than in jurisdictions where assisted dying remains those desperately seeking a way to die that will illegal’. See http://www.dyingforchoice.com/ not leave damage behind them, and who are told instead that ‘suicide is legal, [so] why not just do that?’ And who could be more coerced than Vale Bill Mettyear those facing no choice about how to end their A SAVES founding member, William (Bill) lives – other than to do so violently and on their Mettyear, who made a great and lasting own? contribution to SAVES, died on Christmas Day 2015. He was a committee member for To follow the ongoing debate in the series of many years and president between 1994 and podcast throughout 2016 see the links: 1996. Together with another former president, http://www.wheelercentre.com/broadcasts/ Dr Eric Gargett, Bill helped to write SAVES podcasts/better-off-dead#episode_list Handbook Right to Choose, which is still used extensively as a comprehensive guide to http://www.wheelercentre.com/notes/an- issues associated with voluntary euthanasia law argument-for-assisted-dying-in-australia-andrew- reform. Bill was also SAVES Bulletin editor denton-s-di-gribble-argument-in-full for many years. In collaboration with current SAVES webmaster, Brenda Aynsley OAM, Journal of Assisted Dying Bill was instrumental in establishing SAVES’ DyingForChoice.com is a website led by website. In 1999 the website was endorsed as Neil Francis. Neil is a past President of the one of the best educational resources on the World Federation of Right to Die Societies, web related to death and dying. It especially past and Foundation Chairman and CEO of noted the range of SAVES’ Fact Sheets that Bill YourLastRight.com — the national alliance of had also helped to write. Frances Coombe and Australian State and Territory assisted dying long-standing SAVES member Gerry Versteeg societies — and past President and CEO of attended Bill’s funeral on behalf of the society to Dying with Dignity Victoria. extend sympathy to Bill’s wife Olive and their family. They thanked them for kindly calling One segment of interest in the website is the for donations to SAVES in lieu of flowers as a ‘F Files’ which exposes misinformation related memorial to Bill. We remain indebted to Bill’s to ‘fearmongering, filibustering, flip-flopping, important legacy to the society. fudging, fiction and faith’. Mr Francis argues ‘it is unacceptable for rational citizens to be denied freedoms on the basis of scaremongering and erroneous information’. The website provides The VE Bulletin is available by email: citizens, politicians, policy advisors, healthcare As postage has now increased from 70 cents to workers, media professionals, researchers $1.00, and with slower delivery, please consider and others the evidence, arguments and this option to reduce postage costs. Email: resources to be properly informed and to avoid [email protected] to receive future editions by misinformation’. email.

4 MARCH 2016

A ‘thank you’ make the claims know, or should reasonably be expected to know, that they are false and/ SAVES wishes to acknowledge and thank past or misleading. Neither the 2013 nor the 2014 committee member and past secretary of the annual reports by the Dutch Regional Euthanasia World Federation of Right to Die Societies, Review Committee contain the figure of 550. Libby Drake, for managing SAVES’ Facebook page. Social media is an increasingly important References: medium for providing information on the issue https://theconversation.com/factcheck-qanda-were-550- of voluntary euthanasia law reform locally, babies-killed-last-year-under-dutch-euthanasia-laws-50473 nationally and internationally. We thank Libby Netherlands Regional Committee Fact sheet: for maintaining this important information to keep us all ‘posted’ at ‘Voluntary Euthanasia in https://www.euthanasiecommissie.nl/Images/QandA%20 SA – The Right to Choose’. Euthanasia_tcm52-44507.pdf United Kingdom International news Sir David Attenborough supports the UK ‘right The Netherlands to die’ campaign An article in the online journal The Conversation Veteran broadcaster Sir David Attenborough provided an important ‘Fact Check’ which supports the UK ‘right to die’ campaign. refuted the false and sensationalist claim made He stated that he would consider voluntary by an audience member, Luke Formosa, during euthanasia if his life became ‘wretched’, and if the ABC television program, Q&A, on voluntary he was still [as he termed it] ‘compos mentis’. assisted dying (November 9th). Mr Formosa He argued: claimed: When you see poor people, poor in the sense of Findings from the Netherlands Euthanasia having some wretched disease, pleading for their report in 2014 indicate … 550 newborn babies lives to be brought to an end, it’s difficult to think with diseases or disabilities were killed. that they don’t deserve to have that right. When asked by The Conversation to comment In September 2015, MPs voted overwhelmingly on Formosa’s assertion, the General Secretary against law reform to allow doctors to help of the Netherland’s Regional Euthanasia terminally ill patients end their life. It was the Review Committee, Nicole E.C. Visée, said the first Commons vote on this issue in 20 years. committee’s 2014 report did not state that 550 newborn babies had been killed, and referred Reference: Helen Pye, Yahoo, November 19, 2015 readers to a fact sheet on the issue. California Dr Eduard Verhagen from the University Opponents of assisted dying in California have Medical Centre Groningen, has advised that announced that they failed to collect the number since just before 2007, the lives of only two of signatures required for a November ballot newborn infants had been ended under the referendum to overturn the End of Life Option Groningen Protocol which is a policy unrelated Act. Opponents collected about 200,000 of the to the Netherlands euthanasia law which relies 365,880 necessary signatures. This means that on informed consent. Mr Formosa’s on-air the statute can go into effect as planned - 91 claim is just one clear example of the consistent days after the conclusion of a special legislative misinformation promoted by opponents of session in which it was passed. Californians choice for voluntary euthanasia. These claims will soon have the same freedom as those in involve fear-mongering, inaccuracies, distortions Oregon, Washington, Vermont and Montana: the and factual misrepresentations: when those who right to choose from the full range of end-of-life 5 options. The plight of young Californian Brittany Medical Association], the Californian Medical Maynard, aged 29 and an active advocate for Association has moved to a neutral stance legalising physician aid in dying, was a driving following the passage of the End of Life Option force in achieving this legislation. Act. Ms Maynard elected to die in Oregon on the Online references: 1st November 2014 after being diagnosed with http://statelaws.findlaw.com/california-law/california- terminal brain cancer 10 months earlier. Ms euthanasia-laws.html#sthash.TIFyn6kI.dpuf Maynard and her family had moved to Oregon, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient. completing the 6 month residency requirement, xhtml?bill_id=201520162AB15 and using drugs made legal to her by the state’s Death with Dignity Act. Clodfelter, R & Adashi, L ‘The to Die: California enacts physician- assisted dying law’, JAMA, 315 (3) 251-2 California’s End of Life Option Act was signed Gostin, L & Roberts, A ‘Physician-assisted dying – a turning into law in 2015 by Governor Gerry Brown point?’ JAMA, 315 (3) 249-250 who formally approved the Act. This allows terminally ill patients expected to die within six Oregon months to end their lives with the assistance of a physician. The decision must be an informed one The update on the latest report on the Oregon that is based on a medically confirmed diagnosis. Death with Dignity Act for 2014 reveals that If there are indications of a mental disorder, the since 1997, when the Act came into force, 1327 physician shall refer the individual to a mental people have been provided with prescriptions; of health specialist for assessment. which 859 have been used. In 2014 there were 155 prescriptions issued, of which 60.6% were The individual requesting the drugs must be a used. All those making requests were covered resident of California who is able to establish by health insurance and the majority of deaths residency. In order to comply with the law, occurred in white (95%), well-educated men physicians may not prescribe lethal drugs as over 65 years of age. The median age was 72 requested by the patient until after three requests years. Cancer (69%) and amyotrophic lateral are made (at least 15 days apart). sclerosis (ALS - also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease- 16%) were the two main reasons for In January 2016 the Journal of the American people accessing the law. To put the scope Medical Association (JAMA) provided a of access to the Death with Dignity law into comprehensive analysis on end- of- life issues. perspective, the state of Oregon is a jurisdiction In one article Clodfelter and Adashi argue of approximately four million people. that the significance of the passage of the End of Life Option Act cannot be overestimated. Reference: https://public.health.oregon.gov/ This is because the most populous state in the ProviderPartnerResources/EvaluationResearch/ USA resolved to replace a penal code related DeathwithDignityAct/Pages/ar-index.aspx to assisting suicide with a death-with-dignity statute. In 2015 alone 23 states and the District Canada of Columbia sought to codify physician- In the latest developments in Canada, lawyers assisted-dying; eight of these for the first time. for the Federal Government told Canada’s top This is double the number of Bills introduced court that Ottawa needed a six-month extension in any year from 1995. In the same edition of to draft new legislation on doctor-assisted dying JAMA Gostin and Roberts note that, for the first as it could not meet the end of February 2016 time, more than half of physicians surveyed deadline directed by the court. On January15th supported aid-in-dying. Although the American the Supreme Court granted an extra four months Medical Association, has an opposing stance (instead of the six that had been requested). on voluntary euthanasia [as does Quebec, whose assisted-dying law came into 6 MARCH 2016

sclerosis, took a landmark challenge to the effect last month, and which has begun helping Supreme Court. While she lost that battle, the residents to end their lives, is exempt from the Chief Justice declared that the judgement did not four-month extension. preclude the State from introducing legislation The British Columbia Civil with appropriate safeguards to deal with cases Association, and individuals who spearheaded such as Ms Fleming’s. Mr Halligan stated that the case, argued that an extension would be his Bill contained those critical safeguards, a setback for Canadians already enduring setting out strictly monitored criteria to allow unbearable pain and suffering. The association’s a person in abnormal suffering to choose a executive director, Josh Paterson, stated: dignified, pain-free death surrounded by loved ones; rather than endure protracted suffering. For people who are involved in our case and for many other Canadians … who have been waiting Reference: Irish Times Dec 2015 and waiting and waiting, it is going to mean an extension of that suffering…It essentially means France their constitutional rights will continue to be The French parliament has approved a bill that violated and for longer than they’ve already will allow doctors to sedate terminally ill patients had to wait…This case is fundamentally about until death, but has disallowed legalisation of human dignity and choice [and] if more time is assisted-dying and voluntary euthanasia. This granted to the government, there should be a provision is the result of a consensus of socialist built-in mechanism to allow individuals to ask a and conservative lawmakers. Terminal sedation court to have their right to a physician-assisted will only be allowed when a patient’s condition death provided to them. is one that likely leads to a quick death. The The group representing Canada’s medical law will also apply to patients who are unable practitioners, the Canadian Medical Association, to express their wishes, following a process that stated that despite overwhelming objections to includes consultation with family members. the practice by Canada’s 82,000 doctors, no- The process involves medicating patients until one who qualifies for a physician-assisted death they die naturally of their illness or until they will be denied access. Thirty per cent of the starve. However, some doctors argue that it may profession, or 24,000 doctors would support be more humane to allow an assisted death. As patients by consenting to assist their deaths. socialist lawmaker Alain Claeys argued “Our text has one purpose: fighting a bad dying that References: still happens too often in France.” The new bill Kristy Kirkup The Canadian Press, January 11, 2016 http:// will also force doctors to follow end-of-life ottawacitizen.com/news/politics/cma-promises-to-ensure- instructions regarding terminal sedation and patients-can-obtain-assisted-death-despite-doctors-opposition stopping treatments, whether they are expressed by the persons themselves or through an advance Ireland directive nominating a ‘trustworthy person’ to be an advocate; should the patient no longer be able John Halligan, an independent member of Irish to express their will. Parliament, has moved a Private Member’s Bill providing for “a dignified and peaceful end of life” for qualifying persons. The Dying with Dignity Bill 2015 would recognise “the right of clearly consenting adults who are enduring intolerable physical suffering to seek medical help to end their lives”. The Bill was inspired by the circumstances of the late Marie Fleming who, while in the final stages of multiple 7 Serbia The World Federation of Right to Die The right to voluntary euthanasia could soon be Societies recognized in Serbia. The draft Civil Code (GZ), which will be publicly debated until July 2016, The World Federation, founded in 1980, envisages euthanasia as ‘the right of a person to consists of 49 right to die organizations from 21 countries. The Federation provides an consensual, voluntary and dignified end of life, international link for organizations working to which can be accomplished as an exception if secure or protect the rights of individuals to necessary human, psycho-social and medical self-determination at the end of their lives. conditions have been met’. The abuse of the right to euthanasia in order to obtain unjustified http://www.worldrtd.net/ financial or other benefits, would provide a basis for criminal liability.

Reference: Irish Times Dec 2015

With thanks to Sandra Kanck for sending this cartoon to SAVES.

8 MARCH 2016

Newsletter 11 March 23 2015 End of Life Choice

Newsletter on current debates

Brain scan images showing brain enlargement in Worst Ways reds and yellows and brain shrinkage to Die in blues to greens due to Professor Emeritus John Willoughby chronic pain. Hon Consultant Neurologist [F. Cauda and colleagues, Flinders Medical Centre Gray matter alterations in chronic pain: . The challenges of living are rich in NeuroImage: Clinical 4 diversity, emotional significance and (2014) 676! (un)predictability. This newsletter 686.)* relates the toughest challenges, those that no-one would wish on another, Many people with a terminal illness endure nerve activity. This pain actually! arises disorders that cause symptoms, so severe their symptoms, but at least 5% request within mildly damaged nerves when that they cannot be endured. euthanasia, while a small proportion of electrical signals from a few nerve fibres individuals living with the permanent jump sideways to trigger electrical signals Everyone has experienced the sensation of consequences of a non-terminal illness also in nearby nerve fibres: the experience is pain caused by injury or infection. request euthanasia. similar to an electric shock, with stabbing, Likewise, all of us have experienced So, what are some of the conditions that so jolting pain: pure agony, one could nausea, vomiting, cough, headache, cruelly a!ect us? You can find more than imagine as depicted here, in Edvard shortness of breath (such as after exercise), you would ever want to think about at the Munch’s ‘The Scream’. hiccough or loss of appetite for various SAVES website (http://www.saves.asn.au/ reasons. Imagine, now, what it would be archives/resources/archive/issues/ like to experience these symptoms, intractable_symptoms_synopsis.pdf) severely, for weeks, months or years - However, here are a few … permanently. � cancer invasion of nerve-rich areas On the other hand, very few of us have such as abdominal cavity, or chest experienced symptoms that come with cavity, or spine, or pelvis, or throat disruption of nerve or muscle function, leading to pain and, if in the pelvis, leading to paralysis of body movement, possible incontinence of urine and with the associated loss of capacity to carry faeces out activities of daily living. Few of us, too, have experienced intestinal obstruction, or � cancer growth leading to the bloating and vomiting of bowel obstruction of swallowing, or obsrtuction. obstruction of the intestine, with vomiting and, ultimately, starvation The reasonable person might endure any � of these challenges for a while, depending paralysing diseases of nerves on their severity. Never-the-less, an over- supplying the muscles of chest and riding influence on how long one can throat with gasping or choking to endure such symptoms is the inescapable death (such as motor neuron deterioration of energy, drive, optimism disease) and determination that accompanies � mesothelioma (associated with Persistent neuraglia defies imagination chronic adversity. Remarkably, the brain is asbestosis, which is incurable) and, if unresponsive to medical structurally a!ected by long-lasting pain - produces severe chest pain with intervention, would understandably lead moderate but not unendurable pain (see each breath, made far worse on to a patient requesting voluntary figure top of page). It shows numerous coughing, which may be chronic euthanasis. brain regions which are increased or and persistent; this causes In the face of so many worst ways to die, decreased in size as a consequence of di"culty in breathing and feelings the absence of legislation to permit chronic pain – there are physical e!ects on of su!ocation. voluntary euthanasia is a symbol of the brain! In addition to pain caused by spread of human-kind’s callousness towards There are no comparable brain images of cancer into pain-sensitive structures, there human-kind. individuals with unendurable su!ering – is a quite di!erent kind of pain with an !"#$%&'#(&)*#+,--&./)01#,2#3#'&.*4,*/#"5"05%#&'# presumably for ethical reasons – and the unusual cause, known as ‘neuralgia’. It can 4%26758)&,859&%/#3*4#3#"5"05%#&'#:&8;&%2#'&%#;)5# !*7,%&*"5*;#<.2;%3-,3 e!ects on the brain and mind of such be particularly di"cult to treat, being *=5>%&4.854#?,;)#>5%",22,&*#@#A%53;,75#A&""&*2 severe su!ering can only be imagined. unlike the range of pains normally due to <;;%,0.;,&*#B,85*25 Newsletter of the South Australian Voluntary Euthanasia Society saves.asn.au 0421 305 684

9 Voluntary Euthanasia Support Groups Several advocacy groups share the aim of law reform to allow choice for voluntary euthanasia under prescribed circumstances. These are listed below with contact details for members and other interested parties who may seek to join or make enquiries. These groups all comprise volunteers and would be appreciative of any financial assistance. Doctors for VE Choice: Website: drs4vechoice.org Dr. Rosemary A. Jones North Adelaide Medical Centre, Suite 22, 183 Tynte St North Adelaide, SA 5006.Tel: (W) (61) (8) 8239 1988 Fax: (W) (61) (8) 8239 1085 Mobile: 0407 729 407 Email: [email protected] Professor John Willoughby Mobile: 0499 078 938 [email protected] SA Nurses Supporting Choices in Dying Convenor: Ms Susie Byrne Email: [email protected] Facebook: SA Nurses Supporting Choices in Dying. Christians Supporting Choice for Voluntary Euthanasia Website: www.christiansforve.org.au National Co-ordinator: Ian Wood Villa 1, Hampton Mews, 4 Wills Place, Mittagong NSW 2575 Email: [email protected] Patron and Member of the Executive: Rev Dr Craig de Vos, Minister North Adelaide Baptist Church, 154 Tynte Street, North Adelaide SA 5006 Ph: (W) 08 8267-4971 (M) 0402 305 029 Email: [email protected] Website: www.nabc.org.au Syndicated Voluntary Euthanasia Youth Advocates- ‘SAVE-YA’ Convenor: Ms Amy Orange: [email protected] Lawyers for Death with Dignity Spokesperson Stephen Kenny: [email protected] or Emma at [email protected] with Lawyers for Death with Dignity as the subject heading. My Body My Choice spokesperson Phillip Beddall: https://www.facebook.com/MY-BODY-MY-Choice-VE-350165335178263/?sk=timeline&app_data People with disabilities in support of Voluntary Euthanasia South Coast Support Group Convenors: Denis and Pat Haynes [email protected]

10 NOTICE OF SAVES 2016 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The SA Voluntary Euthanasia Society Inc. (SAVES) will hold its 2016 AGM at

The Box Factory 59 Regent St South, Adelaide: Sunday April 24th 2016 at 2.15 pm Business willNOTICE include the president’sOF SAVES and treasurer’s 2016 ANNUAL reports, and electionGENERAL of office MEETINGbearers for a period of one year.The Written SA Voluntary nominations Euthanasia for official Society positions Inc. must(SAVES) be received will hold by itsThursday 2016 AG14thM atApril. The Box Factory 59 Regent St South, Adelaide: Sunday April 24th 2016 at 2.15 pm Business will include the president’sGuest speaker and treasurer’swill be Ms rAnneeports, Bunning and election of office bearers for a th Anne periodBunning of oneis a year.strategic Written thinker nominations and planner for officialwhose po extensivesitions must experience be received in the by public Thursday and 1private4 April. sector

includes policy development and advocacy. She will relate this experience to a discussion of the processes Guest speakerand will progress be Ms Anneof the Bunning Anne Bunning is a strategic thinker and planner whose extensive experience in the public and private sector includes policy developmentVoluntary Euthanasia and advocacy. Bill 2016 She will relate this experience to a discussion of the processes and progress of the Tea/coffee and biscuits will be availableVoluntary at the conclusion Euthanasia of theBill 2016meetings. Bring your friends. All welcome! Tea/coffee and biscuits will be available at the conclusion of the meetings. Bring your Next public meeting will be heldfriends. on NovemberAll welcome! 13th 2016 at same time and venue Next public meeting will be held on November 13th 2016 at same time and venue South______Australian Voluntary Euthanasia Society Inc. (SAVES)__

Annual Membership fees: Single $30.00 (Concession $15.00), Couple $40.00 (Concession $20.00) Life membership: Single $350.00, Couple $500.00 Annual fees fall due at the end of February. Payment for two or more years reduces handling and costs. MEMBERSHIP FORM – or you can join online at http://www.saves.asn.au/samem.php Date______Renewal ( ) New Member ( ) Surname(s) including Mr/Mrs/Ms etc. ______Given name(s) or Initial(s) ______Address ______Suburb/Town ______Post Code ______Phone (Home) ______(Work) ______Email ______(is also used to provide additional information) Year(s) of Birth (optional) ______Please make cheque or money order payable to SAVES and send with this form to:

□ SAVES Membership Officer, PO Box 2151, Kent Town SA 5071 Or pay by Electronic Funds Transfer:

□ Commonwealth Bank BSB 065 129 Account Number 00901742 - And please return completed form to the above postal address to ensure proper identification of your payment.

Do you wish to receive the Bulletin (newsletter) as attachment in PDF format? ______How did you hear about us? ______Your area of expertise that could be of help to SAVES ______Membership fees for ______years $ ______Office use Plus donation to support the work of SAVES $ ______Database Treasurer

Total $ ______Changes Letter

SAVES' members support the society's primary objective which is a change in the law, so that in SAVES’appropriate members circumstances support andthe withsociety’s defined primary safeguards, objective death which may isbe a brought change about in the as law, an optionso that of in appropriatelast resort circumstances in medical practice. and with These defined circumstances safeguards, include death the mayfree beand brought informed about request as anof theoption of last resortpatient in medical and the practice. free exercise These of circumstances professional medical include judgement the free andand informedconscience request of the doctor.of the patient and the free exercise of professional medical judgement and conscience of the doctor. SAVES IS NOT ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE END THEIR LIVES SAVES IS NOT ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE END THEIR LIVES (SAVES(SAVES isis notnot associatedassociated with Dr Philip Nitschke oror EXITEXIT International) International) SAVES’ Primary Objective: A change to the law in South Australia so that in appropriate circumstances, and with defined safeguards, death may be brought about as an option of last resort in medical practice. These circumstances include the free and informed request of the patient and the free exercise of professional medical judgment and conscience of the doctor.

Committee: President Frances Coombe Vice Presidents Julia Anaf Arnold Gillespie

Hon. Secretary / Minutes Secretary Frances Greenwood Hon. Treasurer Vivienne Nielssen Membership Officer Elice Herraman General Member Anne Hirsch

Patrons Emeritus Professor Graham Nerlich Emeritus Professor John Willoughby

Telephone Frances Coombe 0421 305 684

Internet www.saves.asn.au

SAVES Bulletin is published three times a year by the SA Voluntary Euthanasia Society Inc. (SAVES). Letters, articles and other material for possible publication are welcome and should be sent to SAVES Bulletin Editor, SAVES, PO Box 2151, Kent Town SA 5071. The statements and views expressed by contributors do not necessarily represent SAVES official policy. Material in this publication may be freely reproduced provided it is in context and given appropriate acknowledgement. Editor: Julia Anaf

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