The Voluntary Euthansia Research Foundation
Australia-wide phone contact 0500-83-1929
Origin
Due to the great number of enquiries about Voluntary Euthanasia, and pleas for help in dying, since the passage of the Andrews' Bill overturning the NT Rights of the Terminally Ill Act, it has been decided to establish a Voluntary Euthnasia Research Foundation, for the purpose of making available up-to-date information on the latest developments in technology and methods for those seeking Voluntary Euthanasia.
Membership of the Foundation will be by subscription, and members will receive a quarterly newsletter outlining the latest available information for those seeking assistance in dying, particularly information which will enable them to take their desired course of action with the assurance of comfort and success.
Issues covered will include the so-called "suicide pill", availability of drugs, other technical means of voluntary euthanasia and medically assisted suicide, including overseas research, legal issues regarding giving assistance to the terminally ill wishing to end their lives, and progress in campaigning to introduce legislation for voluntary euthanasia throughtout Australia and the world.
The aims and objectives
- Respect the wishes of thse terminally ill who seek to end their lives painlessly, with dignity and without suffering.
- Relieve the suffering, humiliation and powerlessness of the terminally ill by acknowledging the legitimacy of expressed desire, where expressed, for voluntary euthanasia or medically assisted suicide and providing support and assistance to this end where possible.
- Conduct research into technical means by which the options of voluntary euthanasia or suicide by self-administration, can be made available to those terminally ill people who seek final relief from their suffering.
- Disseminate such information to members of the Foundation by way of periodical newsletter.
- Conduct research into the medical, legal, ethical and social issues associated with voluntary euthanasia and medically assisted suicide for the terminally ill.
- Promote the introduction of humane and accessible Voluntary Euthanasia legislation in state and commonwealth jurisdictions.
- Carry out public education campaigns in the media and by other means of publicity, about the circumstances in which the terminally ill find themselves in Australia, about the methods to which they resort, in the absence of humane Voluntary Euthanasia legislation, to end their lives, and encourage members of the public to actively campaign for the introduction of legislation with appropriate safeguards, in the jurisdictions in which they live.
The Foundation will achieve these object by the following activities:-
In recognition of the severe problems encountered by ther terminally ill, in an environment without humane legislation giving legal and social sanction to their desire to end their suffering, the Foundation will advance its central objects by the following means:
- Conducting research into pharmaceutical and other technical means by which the terminally ill can, with legally obtainable drugs or equipment, end their lives in a dignified and humane manner, in accordance with their wishes.
- Disseminating such information to the members of the Foundation by means of a periodical newsletter.
- Providing factual information and advice, as well as moral support to the terminally ill who seek assistance to end their suffering and their lives.
- Conducting research into the manner and means by which the elderly and terminally ill end their lives in Australia in the absence of legally sanctioned voluntary euthanasia and medically assisted suicide.
- Publicising the findings of this research by every means available.
- Conducting education campaigns, through the mass media and other means, to encourage citizens in all jurisdictions to impress upon politicians the broad public support for the right of the terminally ill to choose the time and means to end their suffering, and to actively campaign for the introduction of humane Voluntary Euthanasia legislation.
- Seek legal defence and public support for doctors or members of the public who, because of the absence of humane voluntary euthanasia legislation, having provided advice, support or assistance to terminally persons who request assistance to end their lives, find themselves subject to prosecution.
Public announcements regarding the Foundation will be made on this website, but access to the latest research will be available to subscribers only.
For further information, write to
- Voluntary Euthanasia Research Foundation
- PO Box 37781
- Winnellie NT 0871
International Contact 0500-83-1929
