Bulletin 01: Welcome

4th March 2008

The Hon. Ken Smith (Lib, Bass), will soon place on the Notice Paper in the Victorian Parliament the Medical Treatment (Physician Assisted Dying) Bill 2008.

The Bill aims to give the right to those with a terminal or advanced incurable disease and intolerable suffering the right to assistance from a doctor to die peacefully. It provides a strict framework of safeguards and has been developed with a great deal of consultation. The Victorian Government is on the public record as having no intention of blocking its passage.

The Bill is based on Dying With Dignity Victoria's (DWDV) responsible Legislative Charter, which has been endorsed by the Doctor's Reform Society of Australia, The Australian Nursing Federation (Victorian Branch), The Victorian AIDS Council, Liberty Victoria and others, as well as by a large number of current sitting Victorian Parliament members.

DWDV will be publishing a series of mini-bulletins on the issue, for Members. The bulletins are designed to provide explanatory, factual information and to dispel myths so that Members may reach an informed decision on the Bill.

You may wish to consider creating a folio for the DWDV Bulletins for ready future reference.

At DWDV, we recognise that while many Members will be supportive of the Bill, others will be opposed. Opinions on the matter can be strong on both sides. We believe firmly in open, constructive and respectful dialogue, and encourage all Members to continue with this approach.

Should you have a particular query or concern in regard to the Bill, I invite you to contact me directly on <details withheld>, and we will do our best to answer your questions. You may even wish to host an information session for your party or group. We would be pleased to present robust information and take questions from Members.

I am sure that all Victorians look forward to a dignified and evidential debate on the Bill by our State representatives.

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NB: DWDV is opposed to a publicly available "peaceful pill".

Next bulletin: Why "Voluntary Euthanasia" has been superseded by "Physician Assisted Dying".