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

World Federation conference - Brussels Sept 2002

From the 5th to the 8th September 2002, Mary Gallnor and I attended the 14th conference of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies in Brussels. Approximately 200 people from 27 countries were present, and it was generously and ably hosted by the voluntary euthanasia societies of Belgium, Luxemburg and the Netherlands. The latter is the first country in the world with legalised euthanasia, Belgium is the second and Luxemburg has a parliamentary initiative on the way. This progress had all been achieved since the last conference in Boston. With the slow movement that we experience towards law reform it was exciting and inspiring to see the reality of liberation from the imposition of a cruel law.

The theme of this conference was "Euthanasia and the Law" and the programme posed the question "how can experiences around the world be used to realise a legally sound, free choice in dignified end-of-life decisions for everybody, anywhere in the world"?

It was indeed a challenging and provoking programme featuring such topics as 'Initiatives of Legislation', 'Role of Medical Organisations', 'Implications of Research', 'Jurisprudence and Prosecution Policy', 'Euthanasia a Human Rights Issue?' and 'Assessment Procedures'. There were also parallel sessions from which one could choose, including 'Patients who fall through the cracks', 'Reactions towards the Netherlands on legalisation', 'Designing a website', 'The Caring Friends Programme in the USA', 'The legal situation in Oregon' and 'The 'Drion Pill'. Also discussed was the situation faced by Dianne Pretty and other UK developments.

Lunch workshops featured the topics of 'Knowledge and Medical Skills of Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide', as well as 'Life Stances and Choice in Dying'.

Once again, as in Boston, Australians were well represented through eloquent and most informative speakers. Dr Rodney Syme, President of VESV, spoke about Developments 'down under' and Professor Helga Kuhse, Honorary Senior Research Fellow at Monash University, spoke on ethical points of view in Australia. Dr Philip Nitschke, Director of EXIT Australia, spoke about how to cope with hostile situations.

I found the talk concerning the role of medical organisations to be particularly interesting. Dr Michael Irwin, Chairman of Britain's VES, reported that during a debate at this year's British Medical Association annual conference the Chairman of the Medical Ethics Committee noted that the law in Britain needed to be changed. This was because there was "a gap between what the law said and what the law did." This is of course correct and I feel that it is one of the strongest points in our argument for law reform.

During this debate a resolution was presented to amend the 1961 Suicide Act so that severely physically disabled persons, such as Dianne Pretty, could be legally assisted to die, if this was their wish. The vote was very close - 48% in favour and 52% against. How heartening it was to know that the tide is turning rationally and compassionately to favour choice for assistance in dying. At our own Australian Medical Association National Conference in May this year a motion for the AMA to adopt a neutral policy on the issue of VE gained close to 30% support, which is a significant figure and indicative of a change in thinking which will lead to law reform.

In another session Spanish human rights lawyer Jorge Arroyo, and Paul Lemmens, Professor of Law and Belgian judge, spoke most passionately about the right to die as a human right. Jorge defended the right to die as being without doubt the most personal of human rights. He pointed out the irony of it being a crime to assist someone to commit something that is not a crime. Paul spoke most eloquently about the European Treaty of Human Rights, which safeguards personal autonomy. He argued strongly for this autonomy to include the right to die, according to an interpretation of maintaining dignity in life through a dignified death. This poses interesting and commanding questions such as "Can there be limits on such a right?"

There was a wealth of intellect and compassion in the speakers who included solicitors, lawyers, teachers, doctors, nurses, researchers, philosophers, a theologian, an oncologist and an anaesthesiologist. This all made for very heartening, stimulating and inspiring interactions. The World Federation is growing in strength and vitality, pursuing different inroads towards law reform. It is all the more impressive when one considers that it is organised on a voluntary basis. The academic qualifications of its directors and board are a credit to its credibility and respectability. Michael Irwin the President is former Medical Director of the United Nations, and half the members of the board have medical qualifications. This is an interesting fact, reflecting the significant support of medical practitioners which, in Australia, is approximately 50%.

The series of George Saba Medals (made possible through a generous bequest from George Saba, past executive director of the Japanese Voluntary Euthanasia Society) are awarded at each conference to a person or organisation that has made a valuable contribution towards the aims of the World Federation. This time it was presented to the Voluntary Euthanasia Society of the Netherlands, "Nederlandse Vereniging voor Vrijwillige Euthanasie", in recognition of its extremely valuable ground breaking work and achievement of legislative reform.

All in all, a challenging and highly stimulating conference led to our great enjoyment and valuable networking. This continued informally through meal and break times, during the evening entertainment, in the buses that transported us to and from the venue, and also in the elevators and the hotel lobby! Upon reflection, Mary decided not to renominate as a member of the World Federation Board. Libby Drake, who serves the Federation so capably with a great deal of hard work as Secretary, is our Australian representative and Mary considered it important that other member countries have the chance to be represented. Mary also wanted to devote her time towards the Dignity in Dying Bill; and the whole SAVES committee is very appreciative of this. Mary and I were very fortunate to have generous grants from both the World Federation and SAVES. We are greatly committed to using the information and skills gained from the conference to benefit SAVES' movement for law reform.

Copies of the talks given at the conference are available from the Netherlands Voluntary Euthanasia Society website www.nvve.nl.

Frances Coombe