 South
Australian Voluntary Euthanasia Society (SAVES)
The VE Bulletin Excerpts
'No price is too high to pay for
the privilege of owning yourself' Rudyard Kipling
Vol 19: No 2 July 2002
SAVES' Constitution, voluntary euthanasia and self deliverance
The aims of the society outlined in SAVES' Constitution are:
(1) to promote public understanding and acceptance of voluntary euthanasia
(2) to promote legislation for voluntary euthanasia
The well publicised story of Mrs Nancy Crick, a 69 year old Queensland woman
who was suffering interminably, and who made a decision to end her life,
brings to the fore the issue of self-deliverance by assisted suicide. It
also highlights the dilemma for voluntary euthanasia societies throughout
Australia.
In the absence of humane law reform it is understandable that some people
will seek self-deliverance. This society receives requests for information
and assistance from people in dire distress, and this is of concern to us.
We have therefore sought legal advice concerning the concept of a 'caring
friends' society, such as exist in other parts of the world. These societies
provide suitably trained and caring people who will sit with a person who
has elected to end their life due to unbearable suffering.
The society has received two legal opinions, both of which strongly caution
against supporting the formation of such a group, as this would involve 'dangerous
untested waters' and threaten the liberty of anyone who elected to be present
while a person took their own life.
In the future, upon legal clarification through precedent, it may be possible
for such a group to be formed. However this would need to be a separate entity
from SAVES, given our constitution and mandate.
The society is unable to 'wear two hats' and must limit its role to pursuing
law reform, so that in time hopelessly and terminally ill people will no
longer need recourse to other more ad hoc forms of assistance.
Meanwhile Dr Philip Nitschke’s workshops are well worth attending, and provide
the means to gain the peace of mind that comes from being fully informed.
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