THE VIEWS OF YOUNG
PEOPLE
As a 15 year old Year 11 student, relatively
well versed in current affairs and I like to
keep up with legal issues... I was relieved when
the Parliament in the Northern Territory
legalized Euthanasia. I feel it is a huge,
greatly needed step forward. Just less than 6
months ago I lost my mother to cancer. She had
been ill since I was seven, a nine year battle
which absolutely destroyed her.... It hurt so
much to see her like that. To see the cancer
bulge on her chest, in her neck and cheeks. ...
It hurt me more than anything ever has or ever
will when she died, a feeling of total
abandonment, but I know that now she is free.
Free to do all the things that her sickened,
dying body would not allow for nine long years
... Now she has a voice of an angel instead of
the horrible rasp that she had because the
doctors severed her vocal chord when they had to
do an emergency tracheotomy during a spinal
fusion. "Assisted suicide is an act of maximum
cruelty" said theologian Gino Concetti, but he
has obviously never watched a loved one fall
into deaths clutches and stay stuck between life
and death for days, weeks, months. He has never
had to get up at 3 am and call an ambulance
because his mother's morphine pump is blocked
and she is enduring phenomenal pain from her
skin cells to the core of her cancer polluted
bones. He has obviously never felt the pain of
watching your mother die for 9 of your 15
years.... Death is a part of life, it is part of
the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. I
do not believe in God or Buddha or any other
spiritually enlightened being. What I do believe
is that to leave a person in the condition that
my mother was in was more inhuman than relieving
her of her pain ever could have been.
(F, 15, SA)
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997
From: <name@isp.com.au>
Subject: Support Euthanasia
Three years ago I was 15 when my mother died
of cancer. She had been sick for a year, and
fought hard all the way. However I will always
remember her lying on her bed and saying, "All I
want to do is go to sleep and never wake up." No
matter how strong a person is, there can come a
time when they just can't go on. My mother
fought for longer than any of her doctors
advised, she continued with treatments when they
told her it was no good and to 'enjoy the good
times', these treatments made her feel so bad,
but she kept on. She only stopped treatment
about two weeks before she died. Although my
mother was not euthanised, I totally suport this
law. It is simply humane.
And again:-
Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1997
Subject: A Poem
I wrote earlier about my mother. This poem
conveys my feelings much better about letting
go.
- She was a swan who wanted to fly
- fly away from the pain.
- She wanted just to say goodbye
- and not come back again.
- And as much as it hurts to let her
go
- she only wanted to be free.
- Now she's free and happy, you know
- you have to let her be.
- And one day you'll see her once
more,
- and this you may deny,
- But one day you'll see her I'm sure
- but now you must say goodbye.
- XXXX? (W.A.)
This page is great, I just hope the people
who need to read it.
(F, 18, ?)
From: "XXXX" <name@isp.com.au>
Subject: Voluntary Euthanasia
Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1997
I have not had the experience of watching a
loved one or friend die a slow, painful and
undignified death wishing he/she had the option
of euthanasia. I have seen a friend die slowly
from a debilitating condition, but he did not
desire euthanasia. Therein lies the distinction
which a lot of those who oppose euthanasia fail
to perceive. It is voluntary euthanasia you
support, as do I. I very firmly believe that in
those extreme circumstances where euthanasia is
relevant, every human being should have the
right to select that option. Those who do not
agree do not have to select euthanasia, but they
should not have the right to deprive those who
wish to have the choice. It makes me extremely
angry to know that such a few people have the
power to deprive the majority of what I consider
should be a basic human right. They seek to
impose their moral/religious views upon the rest
of us, and I hope they are not successful.
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997
From: Name <number@inst.edu.au>
Subject: It's about time
I suffered through seeing the pain in the
eyes of both my Aunt who died of breast cancer
and my grandmother who died of lukemia. It takes
years for people like this to die and by the end
of it they have shrivled up to nothing. Although
through it all both my relatives tried to keep
smiling, but I think it just gets so difficult
for people suffering from terminally ill
deseises to keep up the smiles for the rest of
the, family. I still remember the happy times
while they were alive, but I also see the pain
in their eyes, and them lying in a hospital bed,
dying. I couldn't imagine people going through
this. I congratulate the Northern Territory for
finally giving terminally ill people another
option, than to die in agony and pain, and
giving them some rest.
(F, ?, NSW) sp;
Misplaced effort?
To: Nitschke-Philip
From: <name@isp.com.au>
Philip, I am quite concerned about the Act.
My concern it that it was rushed through by
Marshall Perron and there was next to no public
debate before or during the Parlamentary stages
of the original bill. Sure we have heaps of
debate now, but that is in the middle of people
being euthenased under the Act, hardly a time
for objective debate by both sides.
Another point is that you were a very good
advocate for some very important issues here in
the NT, but now have sided with the Government
and are focussing on ending a few peoples lives.
I just don't think this is very healthy for
society as a whole and is a bit of a waste of
your energy. I don't de-value the views of those
people and the families of the people you helped
to kill, but when you weigh it all up against
the needless suffering due to poor health
services in general and lack other prevenative
measures I just think it is not so important.
(M, ? NT)
From: "name"
<userid@isp.net.au>
Subject: May the Andrew's Bill never be
passed
Date: Fri, 7 Feb 1997
I am a 23 y.o. female ... and all I can say
is that I am proud of Dr Nitschke, in that you
have the guts to stand up for your beliefs. If
ever one of my parents became so ill that they
sought to die rather than keep suffering, then I
would wholeheartedly support them. If a person
has the right to live, then they also have the
right to die. I fully support Voluntary
Euthanasia and have ever since I was old enough
to understand the concept and its implications.
There seem to be quite a few highly
conservative politicians who wish to see VE
re-illegalised. These politicians who are
supporting the Andrew's Bill are not listening
to their constituencies, but their own
narrow-mindedness. Any politician who supports
the Andrew's Bill will never again have my vote.
As for those religious groups who believe that
it is their right to dictate to the rest of us
what our moral values should be - guess again!
You DON'T have the right to tell anyone how to
live OR how to die.
Homepage: http://www.isp.net.au/~name
(F, ?, SA)
FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997
From: ----------
<xxxxx@xxxxx.xxx.xxx.edu.au>
Subject: EUTHANASIA
I have raised five children, believe in God
and form opinions about everything! I have never
suffered pain that I wasn't able to control.
Perhaps I will never have to take advantage of
VE, but I'm darn sure I would not want to
prevent another from doing so if he or she
chose. I fully support the NT Euthanasia Laws
and am anxiously concerned that they remain in
place as a standard for the rest of Australia.
Dr Nitschke's dedication to dying people is
admirable and beyond the capacity of most of the
rest of us. His pioneering endeavours will never
be in vain. Congratulations - stick with it!
(F, ?, NSW) sp;
ETHNIC COMMUNITIES
... as a migrant who has worked for many
years interpreting I have seen much distress and
suffering when detailed in the medical field.
Hence I am confident in stating that 85% to 90%
of the migrant population ... are in favour of
Euthanasia, when "their time has come". Many
abhor palliative care, and feel that they are
merely instruments of experiments by the
Multinational Pharmaceutical companies to test
new drugs since the Animal Liberations oppose
the use of primates ...
(F, 68, NSW, Ex-Commonwealth Interpreter)
ELDERLY WOMEN
50% of all correspondents who wrote letters
were women over 50, many of whom had outlived
spouses and even children, and some of whom were
in retirement villages or nursing homes
themselves, and survive by remaining active
within the community.
Congratulations for your kindly action to
help a patient to die.... There are so many
people in Nursing Homes who are all helpless and
just kept alive - I know many would rather be
dead. It is to be hoped that Parliament will be
sensible and pass a law for the whole country to
help those who want to die to be allowed to do
so...
(F, 84, NSW, stroke victim)
May I say "thank you" on behalf of all the
suffering and elderly patients who may be in
need of your caring. I ... do not subscribe to
any religion but have been sick and can
understand why people who have a wish to die
with dignity under extreme discomfort and
pain.... it was a wonderful thing you have done
and only the fit and healthy with no
understanding of pain and discomfort could
object. Of course some are so brainwashed by
their religion that "life" is the only important
thing, not its quality.
(F, 76, VIC)
I feel compelled to write this note to let you
know how much I admire your courage and
compassion re euthanasia. If ever in danger of
being at the mercy of ANYONE as I approach the
end of my life, may I visit Darwin too! I fear
lack of dignity and loss of independence more
than physical pain. ... I am a Catholic, but
Christ chose death too. ... Thank you for
leading the way... My late husband meant it when
he told his surgeon "knock me on the head, doc"
as he was about to have his only leg amputated
at age 90. If euthanasia had been legal in Qld
in '86, I could not have denied this brave man
that comfort. He had to suffer another 2 years.
We were married 52 years. A wonderful, brave and
lovable man, friend and father. ... May you
still be around when I need you... PS Not too
soon I hope, until,.I attain my aim to make
Autogenic Training Exercised widely known. I
teach free classes to stressed, ill or drug
addicted trainees who manage to produce
wonderful results for themselves. These are
mental exercises which may also stand me in good
stead...
(F, about 90, QLD)
... I can see no virtue or even common sense in
prolonging the life of someone who has become no
more than a human shell, the quality and
enjoyment of life gone, and no future but x
number of weeks, months or years of pain and
suffering to contend with.... I fail to see that
while one person condemns the use of euthanasia,
the production of test tube babies is condoned.
A procedure which is against the Laws of Nature,
as is the practice of keeping hopelessly ill
patients alive by means of drugs and cumbersome
medical devices. ... I am convinced that the
majority fear the "manner of death" than death
itself. In my many visits to nursing homes I
have talked with people who pray each night to
die in their sleep. ... I have come to be
thankful that both my parents died suddenly from
heart attacks. ... I sincerely trust that
politicians will not ever be required to cast a
"Conscience Vote" on the euthanasia issue as I
feel sure that for many the vote would be
influenced by personal, religious, political or
monetary reasons ... I have seen mentally alert
people who are forced to sit day after day doing
nothing because they are blind and deaf. Their
lives have become a misery. They have the mental
ability, but because they can neither read the
newspapers nor listen to the radio or TV, they
are unable to use the faculty left to them ...
Such people are lonely and isolated and many
wish to end their days speedily. ... I can only
hope that by the time I am served with my
"sailing instructions", Euthanasia will have
become law. ... If you must be given a "label",
it should be Dr. Hope instead of Dr. Death.
(F, 90, WA, active and autonomous resident of
village for elderly)
ELDERLY WOMEN CARING FOR
TERMINALLY ILL SPOUSES
Elderly people, themselves ill or at risk of
becoming ill at any moment, caring for
terminally ill dependent or even incompetent
spouses, live in terrible fear they will lose
their own powers before their partner dies - a
human tragedy not even considered by the
opponents of voluntary euthanasia.
(F, 80 approx, VIC)
A very anguished letter, not reproduced here,
from an elderly lady caring for her 81 yr old
husband who suddenly and fully lost his vision
and is confined to wheelchair and totally
dependent on her. She has suffered from the
consequences of anorexia since 16 yrs old, and
has had portion of bowel removed because of
cancer, and now has secondaries in the lungs.
She has saved up 100 barbiturate tablets, which
are now unobtainable, which she fears may have
lost their potency, and has obtained a plastic
bag to smother herself after taking them. She
does not want to commit her husband to care, and
fears succumbing herself before her husband, and
even that her own attempt to die will fail
because of inability to swallow the tablets.)
.. I want to be heard because I can see the
goodness of it [euthanasia]. ... My
husband has ... cancer ... and after losing his
leg and half his bowel from it I can see what a
horror his life is. ... he wants to write his
whole story down for you. ... I am married to a
man who often wishes he could just die.
(F, 60+, NSW)
ELDERLY MEN FACING
ILLNESS
Congratulations on your courage and humanity.
I feel for the chap you helped. I am having
trouble with an enlarged prostate ... and my
doctor says, almost casually, that it will
ultimately turn to cancer. ... I consider the
NT Euthanasia Bill the most important piece
of legislation passed in Australia in my
lifetime and I think your courageous act is far
more important than a man landing on the moon by
the factor of 1000... one hopes that ultimately
humanity will prevail over religious and moral
dogma. Like most people of my age I am not
scared of death, but I am terrified of dying
slowly - it must be so lonely. Do not let the
"morally correct" influence you.
(M, 65, VIC)
... We had a dear friend .. who died from bone
cancer and who suffered horrendous time in
hospital and no matter how much he pleaded to
die no one helped him. That's wrong. ... how
about King George VI? I believe ... he was given
lethal injection on his request to die while
suffering from incurable illness. He was not
only a King but Head of the Church of England
and there was no ... law to do this in the UK.
If it was good enough for him then we must say
its more than good enough to die with dignity
...
(M, 60+, SA) sp;
THOSE WHO HAVE LOST
CHILDREN
I just have to put pen to paper to say Thank
You for helping [Mr Dent]. These people
who stand up and say no have not sat with a
loved one, seeing them eaten away with cancer.
... last year [I] saw my dear daughter
fade away, screaming. I could not help her. ...
So Thank You, we need more men like you.
(F, 80, NSW)
THOSE WHO HAVE LOST
SPOUSES
I would just like to say I for one believe in
what you are doing ... My husband died .. with
Prostate Cancer and he suffered for years, he
had operations, radiation ... and had the best
of care. I nursed him at home for three years
but had to put him in a Nursing Palliative Care
Hospice ... he was there for nine months and had
very good care... but near the end my husband
had lost all Dignity and screamed in pain ... he
had a catheter always in ... he had morphine all
the time, but it could not stop bed sores and
the pain. He would always ask me to give him
something to end his life; it broke my family
and me to see him lose his Dignity. I am trying
to say people should have the right to Die when
there is no hope... Life is funny - we put our
pets down so they will not suffer, but we let
humans suffer because some people say you should
not take a life, but the Morphine my husband had
to have would of put him into the Coma and make
his heart give out in the end.... I just had to
write to you as I feel very strongly on this and
it is good to see you have the guts to stand
against what the Church and Politicians have
disagreed against what the Northern Territory is
trying to do to help those poor sick terminal
patients ... there are a lot of people out there
who feel like I do.
(F, "elderly", QLD)
I write to applaud you and let you know that
among my friends and relations your
humanitarianism gives new hope and strength to
others. ...The nursing staff in the
[Palliative Care Unit] were wonderful...
within a few days, because of kidney failure,
[my husband] slipped into a coma and
died, but as he said to me "the worst part is
waiting"... I am writing this note to you to
assist both myself, in my grieving process, and
more importantly to let you know that there are
people out there that applaud your courage and
would like to offer their moral support for the
stand you and your colleagues have taken on
behalf of all of us.
(F, 70?, VIC)
THOSE WHO HAVE LOST
PARENTS
Date: Tue, 04 Feb 1997
From: <name@loc.inst.edu.au>
Subject: Euthanasia
Dr Nitschke,
You have my whole hearted support in the
arduous work you are carrying out. I am an old
Territorian and I am proud of that fact,
especially when legislation such as the
euthanasia bill comes out of the N.T.
Among the proliferation of argument for and
against euthanasia, one point seems to have been
obscured: it is my decision, given the
pronouncment of a terminal illness, whether I
choose to live or die. If this bill required me
to be put down that would be different. But is
that not what the anti-euthanasia zealots are
doing. Aren't they trying to impose their will
on me? The only safeguards required are to
ensure that that decision is of the person
concerned and not as a result of duress. If it
is not possible to legislate for such provisions
it is more the lack of legal drafting than some
moral tenet.
Please once more accept my thanks for what
you have done and are doing. My mother died on
new year after four months of falling apart -
she was ninety two - and I listened to her
begging me to arrange for to be allowed to die.
That says it all for me.
Thanks again mate. Keep up the good work.
(M, ?, NT)
... Having seen my father slowly die, also from
prostate cancer, over 18 months, I have felt
sympathy with Mr Dent and applaud the enormous
courage of both himself and his wife. Those who
oppose the idea of euthanasia on the grounds
that life is sacred and must be prolonged at all
costs can only be regarded as moral cowards of
the first order. ... I have watched at first
hand as that type of non-thinking left my father
more and more in pain and with his quality of
life diminishing by the minute... my 90 year old
father was pumped full of drugs to force him to
continue his life as a bedridden and frustrated
man whose mind was functioning fully but whose
body was falling apart...
(M, 60+, WA)
I ... thoroughly commend you for your stance and
wonderful support to dying people. When I was 19
... my father was diagnosed with cancer of the
liver, and in those days there were no beds in
hospitals for terminally ill patients ... we had
him at home in his won bed for nearly 10 months
... racked with pain....The night before he died
he developed the "death rattles" and I sat
beside his bed all night and listened to this
horrific noise. I have never forgotten it.
Anyone who opposes the death of a person
suffering has obviously never had to sit and
watch a loved one suffering in this horrendous
manner...
(F, 63, NT)
THOSE WHO HAVE LOST FRIENDS
TO AIDS
.. I lost my mother, brother and sister in
law to cancer and helped my friend nurse her son
with AIDS, all at home. ... my mother was full
of cancer, had a stroke, couldn't speak, hear or
see and was in agony. ... she wanted to die
months before, while she could still speak. She
begged us then... My brother had melanoma in his
brain. He had always been very shy and quiet. he
changed completely ... puffed up like a balloon
all over. Lost his memory. Finally refused to
take his tablets ... and had fits. he was so big
and strong he almost destroyed the 6 of us
caring for him in shifts, and the ambulance ...
He finally died in agony having fits. My sister
in law died in the same home ... with only
myself and her son nursing her. The cancer was
so bad it ate her spine away in large sores from
lying in bed. She could not speak. Moaned all
the time, never stopped. The last 6 weeks she
couldn't open her mouth to eat or drink. We used
a syringe with a small tube on the end to get
between her teeth to give her water. The whole
thing was horrible. I could not eat either, The
whole house was putrid from the smell and I
dry-vomited all the time from the cancer
fumes... my friend's son had AIDS and he was
only 27. ... that was the last straw for me. The
stress of seeing all this misery makes me so
angry. If they had been animals people would put
them down. Because they were human they did not
have the right to ask to die. Every one of them
asked and begged but, Doctors have to suffer
along with them and do nothing... Thank you for
being so kind....
(F, ?, QLD)
SUFFERERS OF
NON-TERMINAL ILLNESSES
... at the age of 36 I was diagnosed with
Rheumatoid Arthritis, which produced
excruciating pain in both knee joints and both
shoulders ... Strong painkillers only took the
"edge" off the pain. Faced with an incurable
disease and with life as a cripple, along with a
severe loss of self-esteem, I contemplated
suicide. It was only the knowledge of the effect
that it would have on my mother that actually
prevented me from committing the deed.
I have since had both knee-joints replaced,
along with radiotherapy, injections into both
shoulders and am now in remission. I'm religious
... but felt life was too precious to spend in
such excruciating pain, and as a cripple. ... I
am a Registered Nurse for 20 years and sometimes
witnessed patients with severe, incurable
diseases ... who desperately wanted to be
released from their misery, and who weren't
allowed to die with dignity... Let us pray that
the Andrews Bill, or any other bill like it, is
never passed.(F, 43, NSW)
I am writing to you to express my gratitude in
your courage to stand up for those who are too
ill to stand up for themselves. ... I am a firm
believer in euthanasia for a variety of reasons,
... apart from my belief that no-one should be
forced to suffer for the sake of those who are
totally without compassion. ... I have seen
relatives of mine die of cancer and it is a
truly wicked death. I am a person who suffers
from constant, extreme pain. I do not have a
terminal illness and so I will have to suffer
for probably the rest of my life, and I
shouldn't wish it on anyone. Mind you there are
a few politicians that I wouldn't mind giving my
pain to for a while so they can really
experience suffering. This is not a healthy
attitude but it is how they make me feel. ... I
have no quality of life. I spend much of my time
in bed, I hardly ever sleep and when I do I have
nightmares and I hardly eat. Because of this I
am even more aware than most just how degrading
and devastating to life pain can be. I realize
that at the moment euthanasia is only for the
terminally ill but I hope that one day people
such as myself will also have the option when we
reach the stage where we can cope no more. ...
May you live a long and healthy life and never
have to suffer pain.
(F, 32, sufferer since 5 years of
degenerative nerve disease, SA)
NURSING PROFESSION
I want to tell you I support the action you
have taken this week regarding helping a very
sick person to die. It is a kind and humane
thing to do and it is a great pity more educated
people cannot agree. My nursing career spans 43
years and very often I have wished to help
relieve patients and family from prolonged
suffering. Please believe that many health care
professionals support your action.
(F, 60+, QLD)
I write to support your courage as you try to
bring euthanasia to those who choose to use it.
I am a nurse ... and despair at the lack of
humanity in the system ...
(F, 40?, VIC)
MEDICAL PROFESSION
Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1997
From: Name <nickname@isp.com.au>
As a doctor with 30 years' experience, I
strongly support your stand on euthanasia. It is
time we paid the patient enough respect to
seriously listen to his/her wishes! At the
opposite extreme I am aware that staff feel
scared of litigation, or are trapped by rigid
"policies" so that they over-investigate,
overtreat, and as a final insult are compelled
to "rescusitate" instead of letting death
happen. Some years ago I stood in the way of the
"Rescuss Team" as they raced in to prolong my
patient's inevitable dying. Wiser legislation
will, eventually, allow staff to use clinical
judgement and listen to the patient with a view
to a dialogue, not professional paternalism.
Dr. XXXX. FRANZCP
... I write to you as a colleague who may well
be in a similar position in the future. ... I
hope you have peace within yourself following
what must have been one of the most difficult
and frightening acts of your career.
(M, ?, ICU Registrar)
As a pharmacist I understand how many kicks in
the head you must get and how few bouquets.
Herewith my attempt to provide one of the
latter. As the Fairfax group seems to favour
archaic Roman Catholic views, I have little hope
of publication.... My sincere congratulations on
your triumph of logic over dogma. May our
medical faculties follow your lead...
(M, ?, Pharmacist, NSW - copy of letter
published in a national daily)
... I have debated in my mind over and over
whether or not I should stick my nose into this
business and my neck out into the danger
zone...I fully support your action in the
Northern territory and its Euthanasia debate. I
am a doctor and a human being. ... I have
watched my grandfather and grandmother both die
of cancer. I have seen countless numbers of
patients die. Some have requested help from me,
some have cried in pain to their last breath
despite large doses of morphine. I have wished
and wished that they would die; for them, for
their families and for the caring hospital
staff. There is too much suffering without
necessity. I wish to offer my full support in
your quest to keep Euthanasia legal in the
Northern Territory. Thank you for ... heading
into the boiling pot of controversy surrounding
this issue...
(From a doctor who participated in the
involuntary euthanasia of a family member in a
prolonged, irrecoverable coma).
SERVICEMEN
My wife and I wish to salute you and support
you wholeheartedly in making it possible for
this terminally ill man in Darwin to make his
own decision on when to die. I ... hope that
when I am struck with some terrible, painful
disease this humane process will be still
available. God bless you.
(M, F, 70, Ex Royal Navy & former
police officer, WA)
Both my wife and myself support you
wholeheartedly ... I find it strange indeed that
I was ordered to kill others but I am denied the
right to kill myself. A strange world indeed.
(M, F, Veteran pensioner, NSW)
BLUE COLLAR
WORKERS
My (37 yr old) brother in law had lung cancer
17 years ago and after all the trauma he want
through, eg, couldn't eat, he went into ...
Hospital, and three days later we were informed
of his death. We only learnt 5 years ago he had
requested a needle as he was in so much pain.
God bless Doc.
(M, truck driver, WA)
THE SCIENTIFIC AND
ACADEMIC COMMUNITIES
My father went through months of agony and
distress, with a form of cancer not responsive
to palliative measures. He begged his doctors
for release, which was refused, while his once
powerful body literally consumed itself. When
the end finally came, my mother and I wept, not
with grief but thanks that his agony was ended
at last. More recently my daughter suffered
somewhat less, but was still terribly distressed
for her final months, and virtually comatose for
weeks under massive doses of analgesics. Now in
my fifth year of an internal cancer, I too may
face an analogous situation. I fear though,
self-appointed "moral" arbiters will do their
best to inflict on me the unnecessary
prolongation of suffering so evident in many
cases, denied a dignified end of their own
choice. Fortunately, from a scientific career I
have acquired sufficient knowledge to circumvent
their obstructionist machinations, and make my
own arrangements for such an end IF it should
become really necessary. Shock, horror ---
that would be ILLEGAL! But there is absolutely
nothing lawmakers and clerics can do to stop me.
I wonder if they realise how ridiculous this
makes their posturings on the present issue of
euthanasia? Also, the staggering growth of
world-wide communication via the Internet,
beyond all hope of censoring by such people,
means that sooner or later someone will thereon
provide access to knowledge of the kind
necessary for individuals to make their own
arrangements for a dignified exit, legally or
otherwise. I would of course much prefer it to
be legal, even if I never have to use it.
(M, 73, scientist, NSW)
RELIGIOUS
From: "Bishop XXXX"
<XXXX@isp.cat.au>
To: "'pnitsch@ibm.net'"
<pnitsch@ibm.net>
Subject: Support and prayers
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1997 19:25:48 +-1100
You have my full support, and prayers, in
what you are doing.
I believe that the individual person has the
right to choose when and where he/she wishes to
die, as long as by their action they are not
harming others.
It may be immoral for me to choose to act in
this way, but I have no right to impose my
morality upon another.
All the best,
May the Lord Jesus bless you and may He give
you His Peace and Love.
BISHOP X. XXXX [RETIRED CATHOLIC
BISHOP]
Homepage: - http://isp.cat.au/~XXXX
My wife and I wish to assure you of our
heartfelt respect for your courage and
compassion as you seek to give people a
dignified climax to their life when life itself
has lost its dignity. I spent the last eight
years of my working life as a chaplain in Aged
Care. In that capacity we both saw so many cases
of people with no quality of life whose families
went through agonies as they waited for the
release that never seemed to come. We often
deplore the rather inane comments that are
coming from our Church leaders, and wonder how
many of them have had first hand experience of
the agonies you seek to overcome. We believe
that the vast silent majority support what you
are seeking to do. A recvent phone poll in
Adelaide supported you most emphatically. We
would like to think that our small voice,
expressed in this way, may help you to hold out
against those who appear to put rules befor
human need.
(M, F, Minister of Religion)
I am glad another sufferer was helped to peace
... When I trained as a midwife in the 1940 any
very badly deformed baby was not assisted in any
way to survive ... Here when nursing terminally
ill patients - if when dying they became
restless I gave them the injection left by the
doctor and they died in peace ... When .. my
husband [was dying] following a stroke
[and injury with assoiated massive
infection] I got the Dr to have a look at it
- he gave him an injection straight away - he
died in half an hour. The Dr said he might have
lasted till morning. So people I think have
always been helped to die at certain stages.
Here there is too much talk about the right to
life - but when there is much pain and no
quality of life, it is time to die. better to be
helped than to blunder with pills and plastic
bags. Its' quite difficult to do it oneself. If
the occasion arises, I hope to be helped out....
(F, ?, Unitarian Church member)
... there are many people [like] myself
that appreciate the option you have opened up
for all Australians in case of need. I do not
have a terminal disease and no-one close to me
has but I have suffers physical pain and knowing
that should my time come with terrible physical
pain and therefore emotional anguish I would
like to have a legal option to end my suffering.
I am a Christian by faith and know that God
would support me if I made this decision.
(F, 30+, QLD)
... For many years I was a nurse and thus had
been in very close contact with cancer patients.
I had my own thoughts. ... a lot of the patients
I came across ... were "tired" and hoped for a
peaceful, painless death. ... What right do
those opposing the bill have to say that a
person cannot make the final decision re their
own body? ... I am a catholic, and I mention
this only as a means to inform you how strongly
I feel.
(F, 50+, SA) In stable condition after
mastectomy for breast cancer.
Just a brief note in support of your very
courageous action in helping Mr Robert Dent to a
more dignified way of dying. It's going to take
a great deal more courage to withstand the
onslaught of the anti-euthanasia forces, perhaps
the knowledge that people like my my wife and I
are prayerful that you can cope ... [we]
are ... Anglicans... I pass on to you that our
immediate families, my mates at the golf club
and the vast majority of our friends cannot
understand why, where fully warranted people
cannot exercise their option, people cannot
exercise their option of death with dignity -
easing the pain and suffering ... Damn the
anti-euthanasia forces (whether vested interests
or not)!!
(M, 50+, NSW
OPINION
...the present controversy, and the current
trend to admit the senile to Nursing Homes, has
denied many senior citizens suffering terminal
illness and/or without quality of life, the
assistance of their doctor to ease them out with
compassion and dignity, because of the grave
risk of prosecution and destruction of their
career. In the past, when senior citizens were
cared for in the home, the doctor was able to
prescribe medication that would give relief not
only from pain, but would also release them from
despair and suffering by hastening their demise.
(M, ?, NSW)
... As for palliative care which was so
forcefully declared to be the answer to all ills
by Dr. Wake, we can only say that when lifde is
no longer worth living and one is ready to go
and wishes to "go home", then no amount of
palliative care will ease the burden of existing
day by day waiting to make that final journey.
He would no doubt make arrangements for his own
peaceful end.
(M, F, ?, NSW)
It saddened me that Archbishop 'Clancy of the
Overflow'ing Compassion was very depressed that
someone could have escaped from a painful life.
perhaps he could get some counseling and some
pain killers for his headache - bearing in mind
that God might regard this as unnatural
intervention and cane him at the Pearly Gates.
... Laughter is the Best Medicine.
(F, ?, NSW) Accompanied by scrapbook of
self-drawn cartoons.
In these times of torrid debate about the
Northern Territory's euthanasia legislation and
your role in it I feel compelled to write and
offer you my complete and utter support. I am
aware of your courage and selflessness. Unlike
so many others in your profession you are honest
and place your compassion for others ahead of
self-interest or fears of public criticism. The
Catholic Church and the life-at-any-cost
advocates stick to their own narrow, rigid
outmoded doctrines where suffering is sanctified
and relief from suffering vilified. I am sure
they are an outspoken callous minority. Those
who value dignity and compassion over all else
will stand by you and applaud you and, I am
sure, will number in the majority.... Take
solace in the face that people like me, who live
thousands of miles away and who you don't know
at all, share your views and admire the stance
you are taking. I also admire Bob Dent. His
letter says it all, and says it SO well. You've
shown that you don't retreat from the issues,
you don't crumble in the face of political
intimidation and you don't let ridiculous
threats of prosecution intimidate you either....
It's a shame your colleagues, in the AMA, won't
come clean and stand by you. The cynic in me
suspects that the financial gains in "palliative
care" matter too much to some.
(F, QLD)
I write to support you in your enlightened
approach to legally assisted voluntary
euthanasia and agree that to help someone in
this way is probably the greatest act of love.
The type of death that increasing doses of
morphine causes is cruel. I feel so angry when I
see these so-called experts talking about
"better palliative care" and "better pain
relief" as an appropriate answer to dying with
dignity when all hope of recovery is gone. My
experience is that their "care" REMOVES all
dignity and renders the victims (and I use the
word deliberately) incapable of making any
decisions for themselves. When the vomiting
starts, they are terrified. I saw my brother and
mother die this way and it was just too cruel.
... Every friend and family member of mine
supports you. To us you are "Dr Dignity" -
NEVER "Dr Death".
(F, 60?, WA)
OPPONENTS -
THOUGHTFUL
I saw you a few times on television, and you
appeared as a gentleman, with strong features
and a good deportment! Lately you did look tired
and frustrated, with sunken eyes, and felt I
wanted drop a line or two to you! Why do you do
this thing on euthanasia? It really sounds
awful, and to actually see these people die ...
One day you will die, isn't there any hope in
you of an "after life"? Your name sounds Polish
or German, you must have a good spiritual
upbringing! I am a Hungarian by birth, and proud
of my heritage. I beg you to think carefully of
your deeds ... There is an "Intelligence"
greater than we - we must learn to live through
the pain, be it physical or emotional! I have
learnt a lot in my life through these negative
situations, grown inwardly and discovered a
beautiful fusion with nature! Let it go ... lay
your gadget to rest and on one side! It must be
very taxing for you and it really doesn't bring
you peace! Please consider my plea! May God love
you and His Spirit guide you arright! Surrender
this work, please!
(F, 60? NSW)
OPPONENTS - DOGMATIC
We write to you in Christian love as two who
have been praying for you and against the
continuation of the practice of euthanasia.
Whilst you are convinced you are trying to help
mankind, we KNOW you will never find peace while
you are interfering with God's purposes. He
alone is the author, sustainer and taker of
life. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to bring us
abundant life on this earth through faith, by
His death and resurrection. He also promised us
we would have suffering but that "we would not
suffer above what we could cope with". Suffering
sometimes is the crisis that makes us really
think about our mortality and brings us to faith
and salvation. Premature termination of life
denies a person this opportunity. Matt.8:12
tells us death is not the end of suffering for a
non-Christian. Often reconciliation of family
and/or friends takes place around a sick bed
where the real issues of life are faced.... As
one who is sharing in the frailty and
hospitalization of elderly parents at the moment
and witnessing their fierce fight and desire for
survival, we shudder to think of their
insecurity should euthanasia be legalized in
this state as they lie in hospital wondering if
the doctor is going to classify them as
'disposable'. Both history and the views of
prominent politicians and others have taught us
that 'voluntary' can so easily slip into
'obligatory'. It seems curious to us that as a
Greens candidate you have been wanting to save
trees, yet as a doctor you see human life as
expendable. The GOOD NEWS is that Jesus came to
bring forgiveness and if you can't get the
killing off you conscience, ask Christ to
forgive you and be your personal Saviour. You
will experience His unconditional forgiveness
and peace no matter what the world throws at you
and your life will be richer by far and more
meaningful than ever before.
(M,F, ?,?, VIC)
I ... believe firmly in ANTI-Euthanasia. My own
very personal brush with death is a personal
testimony of how thankful I am to be extremely
well and healthy. In 1993 I was a total
write-off, now I am thankful to our Perfect
Creator for my life as it is today. ... My
deceased husband led a reckless life, always
saying "Live Fast and Die Young!" but when he
was diagnosed terminally ill with Bowel and
Liver Cancer with three months to live, it was
an entirely different attitude. Even with all
the pain and discomfort, he miraculously clung
to life, even amazing the medical profession.
Thirteen months later he died naturally, because
he had the will to live and sort out all his
guilty feelings; and then peacefully met his
Maker. I know this because of our Divine
Savior's almighty plan, life is very precious
and Sacred. My husband died in his own home at
peace with God and the World because he
submitted to Almighty God's Divine Plan!
"Eternity is now, It is not Yesterday nor
Tomorrow, It is never, but always ever." I
remain yours truly and in anticipation of
eternity.
(F, 60+, VIC)
From: name@isp.edu.pl
Subject: my opinion
Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997
(Expletive deleted) off and go to hell.
Dr X. Xxxxxxxx
------------------------------------------------
Department of Genetics
National Research Institute of Mother and
Child
Warsaw, Poland
phone +48 XX XXX XX XX, phone./fax +48 XX XXX XX
XX
(M, ?, Poland, scientist)
If, having read these views, you feel moved
to express your own views to the politicians who
alone can stop the move to overturn the humane
and progressive legislation in the Northern
Territory, the 78 members of the Senate, you can
download a lobbying kit from this site. It
contains the telephone and fax numbers for all
Senators, at both their parliamentary and
electoral offices, and their mailing addresses,
and a brief guide on their use for the most
effective lobbying and way of making your views
understood. All documents are readable on PC and
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