|
The VE Bulletin Excerpts
'No price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself' Rudyard Kipling
Statement: Exit International: a change in position
In the January 2006 edition of the Exit International Newsletter Dr Philip Nitschke made the following statements:
- Exit goes to some length to differentiate itself from traditional Voluntary Euthanasia Societies.
- Exit cannot and will not support the medico-legal approach to VE.
- Exit maintains that ALL elderly people, not just the terminally ill, have the right to a peaceful death if and when they wish.
- For an organization to focus upon law reform is to condone the paternal role of medicine in everyone’s death.
The above statements represent a change from Exit’s earlier position which included a dual focus on legislative reform and ‘do it yourself methods’.
Nearly 80% of South Australians support a change in the law to allow choice for voluntary euthanasia under prescribed conditions, and safeguards. SAVES takes the view that doctors have a duty of care in the complexities of dying just as in the complexities of being born. We do not believe that a DIY suicide pill is an adequate substitute for enlightened medical care at the end of life.
|
