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

The Dignity in Dying Bill has been reintroduced into SA Parliament by the Hon Sandra Kanck MLC.

It is important that state members are made aware of the level of community support for voluntary euthanasia. It is also important for a concerted effort to be made to counter the predominantly negative responses which are received from those vehemently opposed to choice, not only for themselves but others.

Please write to all members of the Legislative Council if possible. Individually addressed envelopes, included within a larger one will suffice, as parliamentary staff will distribute them internally. Hand delivery will save on postage costs. As information in the white pages of the telephone directory may be out of date, you may wish to telephone Parliament House on 8237 9100 for information or clarification concerning current members.
Pertinent points for a letter to your state member include:

• I support (or am writing to express support for) the Dignity in Dying Bill.
• I support (or wish to record, in the strongest possible terms, my support for) legalising voluntary euthanasia
• Please accept this submission in support of legalising voluntary euthanasia.
• Voluntary euthanasia is an act of caring: it is wrong to describe it as killing, as opponents of voluntary euthanasia do.
• Legalising voluntary euthanasia, as a last option in medical practice, will encourage greater research into cures, not less.
• It is not only the possibility of pain, though that is bad enough if it cannot be relieved. What concerns me is lingering on, when all hope of a reasonable quality of life is gone
• I am now…..years old. I want the peace of mind that the legal option of voluntary euthanasia would give me if my dying process became too awful. It would be such a relief.
• It is my life and should have the right to say when I have had enough.
• It would give me confidence in my doctor to know that she/ he would be willing, in the last resort, to help me to die at my request.
• I know that suffering is part of life, but I do not believe that a loving God would want us to endure unnecessary suffering at the end of life.
• When we are suffering with no reasonable prospect of a cure, we should be able to say we have had enough.
• We should all have the choice of asking for help to die if we are hopelessly ill and suffering interminably.
• A doctor should be allowed to help me without fear of breaking the law.
• I object to the present law prohibiting voluntary euthanasia because it imposes the beliefs of others upon me.                                                           
• I know from personal experience (AND / OR the experience of friends and loved ones), that this Bill is welcomed by many people.
• Polls and surveys have shown around 80% support for legalising voluntary euthanasia.
• This Bill includes good safeguards against abuse. I have no doubt that I would be able to choose or refuse euthanasia when the time came.
• Doctors are in a terrible position. They dare not discuss the subject because it is illegal. The patients are in a worse position for the same reason.
• I do not fear the pain but loss of control over vital faculties and total dependence on others is a real concern to me.
• We know that doctors help many people die, and they do not always get their consent. This is because the subject cannot be discussed. It will be much better to have it regulated so that it can be brought out into the open

Writing to state members is another opportunity for SAVES members, and others, to make a stand.