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

I attended this 16th biennial conference from September 7th to 10th as the SAVES delegate. Entitled Challenge in Choice, and generously hosted by Dignity in Dying Canada, the conference included many ‘cutting edge’ topics and facilitated useful discussion of ideas and strategies. There is so much to be learned and gained in the dynamics of such a forum. There are now 45 member societies from 23 countries, including new members from Venezuela, Denmark, Canada, New Zealand and USA. Individual society mandates for law reform vary from advance directives to voluntary euthanasia and physician assisted suicide.

Two motions were open for discussion, and these were passed, one being the SAVES motion, as advised in the above President’s report. The other motion put forward by Right to Die Netherlands and Dignity in Dying UK suggested a working committee be established to explore a reorganisation of the World Federation that could better help member societies achieve their aims; with professional management a possibility. I am a member of this committee, co-ordinating responses of the Australian and New Zealand World Federation member Societies.

The conference topics included "The truth behind the rhetoric - what is working and why", "Nudging the law - how to move legalised aid-in-dying forward”" "Engaging the disability community", "Life and death decisions - who decides", "Aid-in-dying and faith", and "Australia - effect of censorship".

Dr Rodney Syme, President of Dying With Dignity Victoria, and Dr Philip Nitschke, director of Exit International, spoke in the latter session and other speakers included Lord Joel Joffe, member of the British House of Lords who sponsored a recent physician aid-in-dying bill in the UK, Deborah Annetts, Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying UK, George Felos, the attorney for Michael Schiavo (husband of the late Terri Schiavo), and Dr Robert Buckman, medical oncologist at the Toronto-Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre.

Other speakers were a world expert on interpersonal communication, and humourist, Jocelyn Downie, who is Canada Research Chair in Health and Law, and author of Dying Justice, Lesley Martin, founder of Dignity New Zealand Trust, and Paul Spiers, Forensic Neuropsychologist, Chairman of the USA disabilities advocacy group Autonomy (one of the new member societies).

We hear of disability groups opposing medically assisted dying legislation, and it is therefore especially important that Autonomy has joined us in advocating for choice in dying. Choice and control are especially important issues for many aspects of life for those living with disabilities, and this surely must include end of life options.

Barbara Coombs-Lee, President of Compassion and Choices USA gave in-depth information about Oregon’s physician assisted suicide law and identified seven essential factors for achieving aid-in-dying legislation. These are to:

• constantly correct any misinformation
• remind ourselves of our successes
• publicise high profile cases
• network legal and medical supporters
• seek neutrality from medical associations
• recruit suitable staff for campaigning, and
• establish financial resources

I maintain that it is also important to network Christian supporters. At present a minority, often church hierarchies, and vocal, conservative religious right groups ‘ride roughshod’ over majority Christian support for assisted dying legislation (Morgan Poll 2002).

During the conference three awards were given in recognition of outstanding contributions. Canadian Evelyn Martens, who was cleared of two charges of aiding and abetting suicides, received the Marilynne Seguin Award for the person who has made a major contribution in their own country. It was with sadness that we heard of the recent death of Beatriz Gomez, the first recipient of this award in 2004. The Tenrei Ohta Award, for the individual (or society) who has been a major international influence benefiting the global right-to-die movement was awarded to Dr Richard MacDonald, past President of the World Federation, in recognition of his leading role with the Caring Friends programme and outstanding decades of commitment to legalized physician aid-in-dying.

The Health Professional award was awarded to Dr Peter Admirral of the Netherlands, in recognition of his success in establishing a helpful precedent in the global right-to-die movement. Dr Admirral is a leading, medical voice in the Netherlands where his euthanasia protocol is considered to be the gold standard.

Jacqueline Herremans (President of the Right to Die with Dignity in Brussels) assumed the World Federation presidency, with Dr Juan Mendoza-Vega as Vice President, Cynthia St John as Secretary, and Ted Goodwin as Treasurer. A full list of Board members plus more information about the conference will be available at the World Federation website www.worldrtd.net.

Our conference host society was highly successful in achieving its stated aim, to establish and strengthen international networks; also for delegates to learn about the successes, and the battles - locally, nationally, and internationally. I thank them sincerely for their warm hospitality and look forward to the 17th conference in Colombia in 2008.