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

These letters have been slightly abridged for space.

Dear Editor,

Under 'suicide pills' you mention that 'no comments were received'. About three or four years ago I wrote to the editor and complained that no work was being done in this field. I suggested the development of a recipe for a medication that meets exactly the two requirements you mention. Failing that, a method of making something available such as that used in putting animals down.

I received the reply that the only focus for VE was on changing legislation. We would refuse to be involved in anything illegal! As a consequence I almost resigned.

Of course it is high time that people granted themselves the freedom to go. That freedom should be granted with the same compassion that we now grant every suffering domestic or farm animal.

It is no valid argument that it may increase suicides. A really effective drug of that kind will probably prevent more botched suicides than it causes. Not infrequently, aborted and misfired attempts at suicide leave the victims disabled, locked up or otherwise thrown back on the community and into their misery until they are able to mount another attempt or they die.

We must now face in the western world the same situation that has existed in Asia and Africa: there is a glut of humans and individual lives have somewhat decreased in value. As global population figures grow, only a reducing amount of money, energy and effort can be spent on non-viable individuals at either end of human life. (This view is not shared by SAVES. It is the intrinsic value of, and respect for, individual human lives which informs the Society's aims ... Ed)

A rethink in terms of human existence is URGENT!

Dear Editor,

I am writing to you in response to the November Bulletin: 'Suicide Pills'

You are surprised that you did not get any response when 'Suicide Pills' was first mentioned in July 1998. I think the reason is that every old person, myself included, would agree that you should be able to choose the time of your own death, after taking account of your life; family, health and future prospects included.

But the other side of the question is the possible availability of these pills to young people. Nobody wants to become responsible, if only indirectly for the death of unhappy youngsters. Family and financial problems are usually carried forward from one generation to the next, but those young people with a gut feeling of no future will find ways to end their lives.

I don't think that 'suicide pills' should be denied to older people because of the occasional unavoidable death of a very unhappy young person. Euthanasia is a great social experiment and like medical experiments it may incur accidents.

Demographics, with ever more old people are working for Dr Nitschke's cause; and even public opinion in Italy, as I read recently, is moving towards voluntary euthanasia. I think we have to look to the Dutch for progress - they are acting without false sentiments and holier- than- thou attitudes of other countries.