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

November 2002 meeting - President's report

Frances Coombe opened the November meeting by warmly welcoming SAVES' new Minutes Secretary, Marika McKerral. She then detailed the range of letters and supporting information sent to parliamentary members as SAVES lobbies in support of the Dignity in Dying Bill 2002. This material included information relating to the deaths of Shirley Nolan and Jo Shearer, material on a survey of nurses and social workers in Oregon USA, and the important role of a multidisciplinary Task Force convened to improve the care of terminally ill Oregonians. Material was also sent on the importance of focusing on hopelessly (not just terminally) ill patients when considering law reform.

Parliamentarians have also been provided with information on the views expressed by doctors in seven Australian surveys on voluntary euthanasia. Each parliamentarian was also sent a copy of a 'questions and answers' booklet published by the Netherlands Government on the practice of voluntary euthanasia in that country.

The publicity initiative of displaying advertisements on public buses to promote the Dignity in Dying Bill has been well received, and members have been very financially supportive. This novel initiative was suggested by one of our members. A photo and further information is provided later in this bulletin.

Frances then reported on the World Federation of Right to Die Societies conference in Brussels during September, and her report on the conference also follows later in this edition. We were pleased that Sandra Kanck addressed the meeting', giving an update on the Dignity in Dying Bill and taking questions from the floor. Sandra explained that although the successful passage of the bill through both houses of parliament will necessarily be a long and difficult process, she remains cautiously optimistic.

Informal discussions between the committee and members followed over light refreshments.

Julia Anaf