SAVES is not affiliated with Exit International / Dr Philip Nitschke and opposes the public availability of a 'peaceful pill'.

I have read few books, if any, which tell a more poignant story than this account by Richard Watrous of the last five years in the life of his father, Holly. The story is set in the USA state of New Hampshire in the early 1990's. Provisions for the infirm elderly are much the same as our own. It is generally accepted that the duty of doctors, nurses and ancillary carers is to maintain life at all costs. Active voluntary euthanasia is illegal. The conditions under which a 'living will' is effective are narrowly circumscribed.

Holly had a major stroke at the age of 67. It left him paralysed on one side of his body. It seriously impaired his thinking abilities. It radically changed his personality - from proud, forceful, cheerful self-reliance to embittered, irascible dependence. A second major stroke led to marked deterioration. Holly became almost totally dependent, a shadow of his former self - the author's 'shadowdad', kept alive in hospital and nursing home by the 'wonders' of modern medicine.

Richard Watrous' account, based partly on his journal record and on his letters, is moving, harrowing and sometimes brutal. He does not spare the reader the more repugnant aspects of his father's condition. He writes graphically of the stress in the family, as hope for Holly's recovery gives way to the realisation that his father's physical and mental degeneration and his suffering are irreversible. The starkness of the present is highlighted by flashbacks to episodes in earlier and happier days, which are in themselves, vivid pictures of life in a close-knit, working-class family.

A notable feature of the writing is the author's self-awareness. His insightful account of his relationship with his father is intriguing. His attitude seems ambivalent. Duty and love are primary motivating factors - certainly on the surface - but with them the reader senses an underlying resentment of a man who has dominated him over the years. It is a fascinating picture of father-son relationships.

'Shadowdad' does not present a formal case for doctor-assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia - save briefly in the Epilogue. Members of SAVES have access to much more detailed, documented advocacy. They will also be familiar, either from personal experience or from the literature, with many tragedies parallel to that of the Watrous family. Nevertheless they will find 'Shadowdad' well worth reading and discussing. Its strength lies in the clarity, the honesty and the passion of the writing. We can empathise with the family. Its tragedy is one many of us are likely to experience in one role or another. Because of this, more importantly, the book will almost certainly reinforce our conviction of the need in our society for lawful means to choose a dignified and peaceful exit when life becomes intolerable.

Available from Studio 4 Productions, PO Box 280400 Northridge California 91328-0400 USA, or through Australian bookstores (US $11.95 plus postage and handling)