|
The VE Bulletin Excerpts
'No price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself' Rudyard Kipling
Vol 20: No 1 March 2003
Dignity in Dying Bill voted into committee stage
On Wed 20th November 2002 members of the SA Legislative Council voted the Dignity in Dying Bill 2002 into the committee stage where it will be debated clause by clause.
The nine members who voted in favour of further debate were Sandra Kanck, John Dawkins, Gail Gago, David Ridgway, Robert Sneath, Michael Elliott, John Gazzola, Diana Laidlaw and Terry Roberts.
Members who voted against further debate were Andrew Evans, Paul Holloway, Angus Redford, Ian Gilfillan, Robert Lawson, Julian Stefani, Terry Stephens and Carmel Zollo.
|
In her Second Reading speech Sandra Kanck argued that parliamentarians who oppose voluntary euthanasia should support the control of legal euthanasia immediately or:
The situation will shortly arise where they no longer control the use of drugs for euthanasia
at all. The responsibility for this must be squarely placed on their shoulders, if civilised legal medical practice on the question of euthanasia is to remain in their hands.
Sandra concluded her comprehensive and passionate Second Reading Speech by quoting from a letter written by SAVES President Frances Coombe to The Australian newspaper on 4th June 2002. In this she reminded readers that:
'The law prohibiting voluntary euthanasia has been a tragic and black-humoured joke for many years, causing untold suffering and heartache… A law that is continually flouted is brought into disrepute, and yes, that law becomes redundant - dangerously so.'
It is anticipated that debate on the bill will continue in March 2003.
Previous item |
Back to Newletter Contents |
Next Item
|
|
