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

The Oregon Dept of Human Services has released its Fifth Annual Report concerning the Death with Dignity Act, which provides for physician-assisted suicide (PAS). The department's concluding comments were that the number of prescriptions written, and the number of patients using the prescribed medication have increased, but they still represent less than 1/8^th of one percent of the total number of deaths. Educated patients are more likely to choose the option of assisted suicide, and those with college degrees are generally better informed about end of life choices. Multiple sclerosis is the most prominent illness leading to requests for PAS, with one third of these patients discussing that they would seek this in the last month of life. The department maintains that 'the availability of PAS may have led to efforts to improve end-of-life care through other modalities'.

This is of course to be commended, and should reassure opponents of choice who assert that the availability of voluntary euthanasia or PAS will have a negative impact on the provision of good palliative care.

Meanwhile Attorney General John Ashcroft continues his relentless campaign to override the democratic decision making of Oregonians, validated by two citizen initiated referenda on physician assisted suicide, by attempting to outlaw the federal provision of medication for choice in dying. The words of Barbara Coombs Lee, President of Compassion in Dying, therefore have a particular resonance. She argues that 'no-one should have the right - especially John Ashcroft- to take away freedom to work with your doctor to shape an end to life that honors the beliefs and values of a lifetime.'

For further information contact the Oregon Dept Human Service Website - www.ohd.hr.state.or.us/chs/pas/ar-disc.cfm

Also refer to SAVES Fact Sheet 18 - Oregon's Doctor Assisted Suicide Law

Julia Anaf

The Isle of Man, with a population of approximately 80,000, is a UK crown dependency, and is free to introduce certain laws without interference from the British government. Members of the island's parliament have voted to set up a committee to investigate the issue of voluntary euthanasia; spending at least one year hearing evidence from all those involved in the debate, before drafting possible legislation. Under the proposed legislation, only those living on the Isle of Man, situated 70 miles off the western coast of England, would be able to die with the help of a medical professional.

The politicians are adamant that people living in other parts of the UK would not be able to travel to the island to receive medical help to die. Any legislation would have to be approved by the Queen.

Source: BBC News 14May03

In the Luxembourg Parliament on March 12^th 2003, a resolution pleading for the decriminalisation of voluntary euthanasia under specific conditions missed adoption by only one voice, with 27 votes for and 28 against, with one abstention and 4 absentees. All 19 members of the ruling Catholic party (in coalition with the Democrats) voted against the resolution. With the pending election in June 2004, the Green Party will continue to make law reform for voluntary euthanasia an ongoing issue for debate.

From the 'World Right-to-Die Newsletter issue number 43, April 200