Frances Coombe welcomed members to the 2003 SAVES Annual General Meeting held on April 13th. The existing SAVES committee was re-elected for a period of twelve months.
The highlight of the year at the local level was the passing of the Dignity in Dying Bill
into the committee stage in the upper house. Dr Bob Such has introduced
it into the lower house and members are asked to lobby their members of
parliament in its support.
The deaths of Shirley Nolan and Jo Shearer tragically and
dramatically highlighted the reason for SAVES' existence, with the Hon
Sandra Kanck MLC dedicating much of her time to promoting the Dignity in Dying bill to achieve these ends. The promotion of a public face for both SAVES and the Dignity in Dying Bill was through bus advertisements, community talks, library displays and the Australia Day Parade.
At the national level the Queensland Crimes Act was amended to
protect doctors who provide pain relief even if it may hasten the
patient's death. This is to be commended and brings that state into
line with what has been available to South Australians since 1995 with
the passage of the Consent to Medical Treatment and Palliative Care Act.
Greens MP Ian Cohen's bill in NSW was unsuccessful, but the issue will
be further pursued. Western Australia is also considering a bill.
At the international level a law was passed in Belgium in April
allowing voluntary euthanasia under strict conditions, with Hawaii,
Vermont and Arizona all considering bills to allow physician-assisted
suicide. In the UK a decision was made to not prosecute the wife of a
hopelessly ill man who travelled to Switzerland for assistance to die.
In England Lord Joffe introduced the Patient (Assisted Dying) Bill into the House of Lords. At least three cases of assisted death are being investigated in New Zealand.
Frances invited vice president Mary Gallnor to address the meeting
as guest speaker, to provide a short history of the World Federation of
Right-to-Die Societies of which she is a past president. It is
important to note that the World Federation does not set policy, but
its aim is to promote cooperation and liaison between societies and to
disseminate information, hold the biennial conference and assist the
foundation of new voluntary euthanasia societies. (see Fact Sheet 25
this edition). Mary also read out a statement she made to the State
Council of the Liberal Party concerning the appropriate role of
religion in a democratic and secular society and subsequently sent to
all state and federal members of parliament (see below)
Frances closed the meeting after advising members that Dr Francis
Macnab of the Uniting Church has agreed to be guest speaker at the
November 9th meeting. Informal discussion and refreshments followed.
