WorldRight-to-DieNewsletter

www.worldrtd.net Issue No. 57 Winter 2010

World Right-to-Die Newsletter-1Winter 2010

PROSECUTION GUIDELINES PUBLISHED IN UK

Pressured by multiple sclerosis sufferer Debbie Purdy and WF member Dying in Dignity UK (DiD) to produce guidelines governing prosecution of people who accompany others to Dignitas to die, the Director of Public Prosecutions issued such guidelines in September which would apply to England and Wales.

Under the guidelines relatives or friends who “assist” a suicide would not be prosecuted unless they stood to gain financially. But anyone who “encouraged” a suicide could be prosecuted and face up to 14 years in prison. A guarantee of immunity from prosecution would only happen if assisted suicide becomes legal. Despite the threat of prosecution, DiD said there is a growing trend of Britons opting for assisted suicide

Continued on page 2

Debbie Purdy and her husband

FATE’S DR. WILSON ARRESTED The first arrest after the publication of the UK guidelines was Dr. Libby Wilson, President and founder of FATE (Friends at the End) a WF member Scotland-based organization that has helped people qualify for Dignitas

services and accompanied them on occasion. It is not clear that her arrest was considered a guideline violation.

Dr. Wilson counseled Cari Loder, a severely affected MS sufferer, on the use of helium to achieve a peaceful death. The police traced Dr. Wilson through phone records within 10 days of Ms. Loder’s death and arranged for her to be interviewed in England with legal representation present. She was held for 6 hours while she was arrested, searched, fingerprinted, photographed, and a DNA sample taken.

Continued on page 6

Dr. Libby Wilson

JONQUIERE NAMED WF COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR; MAJOR CHANGES REJECTED

At the annual board meeting of the World Federation board in Frankfurt Rob Jonquiére, former director of NVVE (Netherlands), was appointed WF Communications Director. This is a part-time position, funded for six months by NVVE, which would involve being in charge of the WF web site and handling occasional communications between the World Federation and Right to Die Europe. The position will be reevaluated at the next WF board meeting in October, 2010, in Melbourne. Dr. Jonquiére presented the results of the survey taken of all WF member organizations from which the board concluded that no widespread changes were desired by the members at this time.

Dr. Rob Jonquiere

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GUIDELINESContinued from page 1

So far 117 Britons have traveled abroad for an assisted death and 30 more are preparing to go. Speaking at the Right to Die Europe conference DiD head, Sarah Wooton, emphasized the long road her organization and Ms. Purdy have taken to reach these guidelines. They have attempted to achieve clarity about the provisions of the 1961 Suicide Act and were not successful until the decision in July from the House of Lords that the DPP must issue guidelines to determine when or if “compassionate assistors” would be prosecuted. There is public interest in not seeing these people go through the courts.

Ms. Purdy, suffering from multiple sclerosis, wanted assurance that her husband would not be prosecuted if he accompanied her to Dignitas. Though the publication of these guidelines provides some clarity on this subject it does not legalize assistance in dying nor does it guarantee that prosecution would not occur. There remains ambiguity about the term “assistance”, whether organizational representatives who accompanied patients would be exempt from the guidelines’ provisions, and if a family member who might inherit after a loved one’s death would be accused of financial gain.

See www.dyingindignity.org.uk for more information on the Purdy case

NEW BOARD FOR RIGHT TO DIE EUROPE; EXCITING ANNUAL MEETING

Michael Irwin gave a brief treasurer’s report. The present annual budget for the WF is about US $20,000 (about $15,000 is raised from membership dues, of which some 40% comes usually from the European societies). RtD-E receives a $1,000 subsidy from the

WF every year. If RtD-E wanted additional financial help for a specific project the WF Board would consider it. In 2008, the WF, from its reserves (presently about $80,000, of which $20,000 is required for future awards), generously gave $14,400 to help bail out ADMD-France for hosting the 2008 Paris global conference.

The board now consists of Aycke Smook (Netherlands), President, Liz Nicols (UK), Secretary, Karen Sanders (UK), Treasurer, Flemming Schoollaart, (Denmark), Webmaster.

CONTROVERSY OVER GUIDELINES ENLIVENS WF BOARD/RTDE MEETINGSome members of the World Federation are asking for ethical guidelines from the World Federation. A lively debate occurred during the Right to Die Europe Frankfurt meeting when the gauntlet was thrown down by Dying in Dignity board member, Jim Humble, who said:

“The root cause of our internal problem is the dichotomy between the activists versus the strategists; between those who abide by the law and those who are more cavalier; between those who provoke and those who persuade. First,….we believe the Code should require every Society to give ‘an undertaking’ that its policies will comply with the relevant laws and regulations within its area of jurisdiction. More…. we would like the meeting to indicate right here, right now, today that unless that kind of undertaking can be given membership is denied.

“Second….we need a rule…that if any Office Holder of the Federation is charged with a criminal offence he/she stands down… until the relevant issue is determined….I believe it an honourable and ethical thing to do.

I know many brave, caring members have broken the law…raged against injustice….individuals I personally respect or admire. They may do this in their own name…but not in the name of this Federation. In the latter regard their actions are unhelpful, counterproductive and deeply damaging.”

A number of delegates responded. Jacqueline Herremans felt there was a prejudice against their law in Belgium to insist that laws only apply to the terminally ill. She added that “to be faithful to our vision even if you break the law is ethical.” Tom Thalheimer (De Ender) agreed that the Dutch model is excellent but points out that changes and expansion of even that liberal law are desirable. The point was also made that the laws in the Netherlands came about because of court cases where the law was broken.

Flemming Scholaart argued that there is no clear law in Denmark that would have prevented him from escorting a man to Dignitas. Jerome Sobel said that sometimes we have to confront and risk prosecution and need the help of the WF. Ron Plummer reasoned that the WF should be like the Catholic Church where there are “vastly different practices” but everyone is still Catholic. Nathalie Andrews made the point that “our enemies are not inside but outside.” Ted Goodwin (board Vice President who was arrested in February with no trial date set as yet), pointed out that social justice movements need law breakers (Ghandi, he said, would not obey unjust laws) though his organization, Final Exit Network, was designed to help people within the law. He insisted he would not stand down.

No action was taken on the issue of ethical guidelines.

World Right-to-Die Newsletter-3Winter 2010

ALBANIA: EUTHANASIA LEGAL?According to information on the internet euthanasia was legalized in Albania in 1999, under the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act of 1995. Passive euthanasia is considered legal, should three or more family members consent to the decision. Albania’s euthanasia policy has been controversial among life groups and the Catholic Church, but due to other more prominent countries also legalizing forms of euthanasia, it has met a more relaxed world attitude toward the matter.

(Anyone having familiarity with the situation in Albania please contact the editor, fayegirsh@msn.com).

LILACH SPONSORS FORUM IN JERUSALEM ON NEW ASSISTED DYING BILLby Ruth Debel

The first Israeli conference to discuss active euthanasia was sponsored by WF member LILACH (the Society for the Right to Live and Die with Dignity) November 1 at the Jerusalem Ethics Center. The topic was: Death by Prescription; Ethical Questions in View of Death Approaching.

Four years ago a law was passed allowing terminal patients the right to refuse treatment but no one has been able to end their life under the law. Lilach president, Justice Eliahu Matza, told the audience how Israel’s “terminally ill patient law” has not yet been properly implemented.

Now a private member’s bill, modeled on the Oregon law, is being introduced in the Knesset allowing physicians to help terminal patients die. Prof. Avinoam Reches, head of the Israel Medical Association’s ethics bureau strongly supports the new bill.

During the five hour conference a letter was read, translated to Hebrew, from WF President, Juan Mendoza-Vega M.D. which said, in part,

“Personal beliefs, including religious ones, can be commendable and should be respected by those who adhere to these values; but persons not bonded by such beliefs must be assured that they have the liberty to make the decisions their reason deems best. If this means a change to law, such change must be actively searched. Public debate as organized by Lilach … is a very welcome contribution to this humanitarian effort. May it fully succeed.”

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: OCTOBER 7-10 IN MELBOURNE! SUBMIT PAPERS!REMINDER: The 18th World Federation conference will be held in Melbourne in 2010. This will be springtime in Australia and a very pleasant time to visit a dynamic and friendly city – and then to continue with an unofficial meeting in Wellington, New Zealand, Oct. 14-15. See www.dwdv.org.au for more details.

Dr. Rodney Syme, president of Death with Dignity Victoria (DWDV), announced a new idea for these meetings: ten minute papers by any member of a World Federation organization. You can submit your papers to dwdv@dwdv.org.au with “WF PAPERS” in the subject line. No transportation or fees can be paid to those whose papers are accepted. They will be judged by the DWDV staff. Indicate the member organization with which you are affiliated.

The remainder of the program is being developed by DWDV and will be available on their web site. It will be presented in detail, with registration material, in the June issue of the Newsletter. Each member organization is permitted two delegates who can attend the Delegate meetings (although there is one vote per organization.)

THE “SCEN” PROGRAM IN THE NETHERLANDS by Aycke Snook, M.D.

I am a retired surgeon-oncologist and have been a SCEN-doctor for more than 6 years: I have talked to 120 patients in their last state about their final wish. Every time I meet a patient with a request for euthanasia or physician assisted suicide I am amazed to see how well these fellow human beings know to express their well-founded wish. These discussions are intense and exhausting but enriching; the patient, relatives and I are very tired afterwards.

Doctors must observe the following criteria:

1. The patient’s request is voluntary and well-considered. 2. The patient’s suffering is unbearable and there is, despite the best palliative care, no prospect of improvement.

Continued on page 5

Dr. Aycke Smook

Luna Park, Melbourne

68% OF SCOTS BELIEVE ASSISTED SUICIDE SHOULD BE ALLOWEDIn a poll for The Sunday Times, 68% of Scots said the law should be changed in Scotland to allow doctors to help people with chronic illness who want to die to end their lives. Support was at 78% among people aged 35-44.

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71% OF NEW ZEALANDERS SUPPORT MEDICALLY ASSISTED DYINGby Bev Hurelle

In 2008, the Voluntary Euthanasia Society of New Zealand (VESNZ) commissioned a prominent market research organization to conduct a survey to obtain an up-to-date, independent measure of the level of support in New Zealand for the legalization of medically assisted dying.

1,001 New Zealanders aged 15 years and over were asked the following question:If you had an illness or condition from which you had no hope of returning to an acceptable quality of life, would you wish to have the legal right to choose a medically assisted death? 71% said YES.

AUSTRALIAN SUPPORT INCREASES TO 85%

A new nationwide opinion poll, conducted by Newspoll, showed 85% of Australians support Voluntary Euthanasia, an increase of five percentage points since the last survey in 2007.

POLLS SHOWS 48% OF POLES SUPPORT EUTHANASIAThe Public Opinion Research Center of Poland conducted a survey on euthanasia. They found that 48% of respondents felt the doctors should fulfill the will of suffering, incurable patients who want to end their life; 39% were against it, while 13% had no opinion. 61% felt that people suffering with an incurable disease should have the right to decide about their own life.

71% OF CANADIANS WANT EUTHANASIA LEGAL; BILL IN HOPPERFrancois Lalonde, Montreal Member of Parliament Released in September, a poll by Angus Reid asked Canadians if they support or oppose legalizing euthanasia. Nationally, 71 percent either strongly or moderately support the policy. Quebec tops the charts with 80 percent support and British Columbia comes in second with 74 percent.

A private members’ bill on assisted suicide by Quebec MP Francine Lalonde, is making its way through the House of Commons. Bill C-384 began debate for second reading in October. The vote is expected shortly.

Margo MacDonald MSP

Francois Lalonde, Montreal Member of Parliament

WESTERN AUSTRALIA WILL HAVE EUTHANASIA CONSCIENCE VOTEBy Brian Ross and Ranjan Ray, WAVES

The Greens MLC Robin Chapple will introduce a private members bill which would allow West Australians over age 21, when terminally ill with less than two years to live, to request a medically assisted euthanasia.

The Premier of Western Australia, Colin Barnett, takes an ambiguous position, “My opinion on the issue is that I don’t support euthanasia. However, as I have acknowledged, I do support the right of families with the doctors to deal with situations on a case by case basis”.

Both major parties, Liberal and Labor, as well as the Nationals have decided to give their members a conscience vote. The bill has been supported and nurtured by WF member organization Western Australia Voluntary Euthanasia Society (WAVES) based in Perth.

MLC Robin ChappleTASMANIAN EUTHANASIA BILL VOTED DOWNAfter four hours of debate, the Dying with Dignity private members bill put forward by the Greens leader, Nick McKim, has been defeated in the Parliament of Tasmania. Although it was a free vote, members voted along party lines, with all Greens voting for it and all Liberals voted against it. The final tally was 15 to 7. McKim says that if he is re-elected in March next year, he will be introducing a bill again. “I’m absolutely convinced that law reform in this area is the right thing to do.”

Winter 2010 World Right-to-Die Newsletter-5

JUDGE RULES: FINAL EXIT NETWORK FUNDS TO BE RELEASED A judge has ruled the state must return funds seized from a group accused of helping a Georgia man end his life because it has taken too long to file a complaint against the organization. $330,000 was seized in February which belonged to the Final Exit Network and the World Federation of Right to Die Societies since Ted Goodwin, on of those arrested, was also WF Treasurer.

Derek Humphry, who opened the Final Exit Liberty Fund after the arrests to raise money for the legal defense of the seven volunteers, has announced that the fund is now closed and was successful in raising the amounts required to pay attorneys. Contributions came from several countries and included contributions from five member organizations of the World Federation. No trial dates have been announced. See www.finalexitnetwork.org

LUXEMBOURG LAW HAS FIRST CASE, WITH COMPLICATIONS

Marthy Putz, president of the ADMD-L (Luxemburg Right to Die Organization), reports that the first case of a person requesting euthanasia became a problem: a second opinion was needed and, since that patient was in a Catholic hospital, the nuns refused. Though they her to her home she fell into a coma and died in the hospital. Jean Huss, author of the law, got into an open fight with the church. The Grand Duke of Luxemburg had

refused to sign the law, and has since received a medal from the Pope for his refusal. The law has been in effect six months, though no one has used it.

Marthy Putz, Luxembourg

MEET YOUR WORLD FEDERATION BOARD

Back row, left to right: Aycke Smook (Netherlands), Michael Irwin (UK), Cynthia St. John (Canada), Ans Baars (Netherlands), Ted Goodwin (U.S.),

Hugh Wynne (UK)Front row: Faye Girsh (U.S.), Juan Mendoza-Varga

(Colombia), Jacqueline Herremans (Belgium) and Rodney Syme (Australia)

SCEN DOCTORContinued from page 3

3. The patient is cognitively aware of the diagnosis, the situation and the prognosis.

4. The doctor and the patient must come to the joint conclusion that there is no other reasonable solution. 5. The doctor has to consult at least one independent colleague (SCEN-doctor) who must actually see the patient. 6. The doctor must perform the euthanasia - no one else may be assigned to do it - and must remain with the patient until death occurs. This also includes cases of assisted dying where the patient receives medication. 7. The case must be reported to the municipal pathologist/medical examiner, who reports to the regional review committee and notifies the public prosecutor for consent for burial

8. The patient must be a Dutch citizen living in the Netherlands.

In 2001, after the new law came into effect, the Dutch Medical Association started an intensive course forphysicians who wanted to become a second opinion physician (SCEN-doctor) since one of the decisive factors is the consultation of an independent physician. SCEN stands for Support and Consultation Euthanasia in the Netherlands.

During the training, skills like communicative aspects, knowledge in palliative procedures, understanding unbearable suffering, assessing the mental state (compos mentis, delirium), knowledge of painkilling management and being aware of legal aspects are taught and trained. All this in order to help patients and doctors to make the right decision according to the safeguards put down in the law. The SCEN physician must be independent and has to communicate the findings of the examination to the attending physician in writing.

RUSSEL OGDEN PERMITTED TO CONTINUE HIS RESEARCH INTERESTSRussel Ogden, a professor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, is permitted tocontinue his research into assisted suicide. The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) launched an inquiry last year which came to an end late last year when the university, Ogden and the faculty association reached a confidential “mutually agreeable settlement.” Russell Ogden

WAITING FOR MONTANA SUPREME COURT OPINION: AUTONOMY BRIEF REPLIES TO OPPOSITIONby Paul A. Spiers

AUTONOMY, a WF member and right to die organization representing individuals with disabilities, is an Amici, and filed a brief, in Baxter v. Montana. Baxter asserts that the Montana Constitution guarantees of privacy and dignity, protect the choice of Aid in Dying for terminally ill patients. Kathryn Tucker, Legal Director at Compassion and Choices (C &C) is the case coordinator. Many amicus briefs have been filed on both sides; Not Dead Yet has argued, as they always do, that legalizing assisted dying would selectively victimize persons with disabilities, who are more vulnerable to coercion. AUTONOMY, however, asserted, and provided evidence, that this is baseless; that properly regulated laws protect, rather than endanger, persons with disabilities. In 2008, a Montana trial court ruled that the State Constitution protects a peaceful death with dignity. The State appealed the judge’s ruling to the Montana Supreme Court which heard arguments in September. Their decision is being awaited. Robert Baxter, a 75 year old ex-Marine and truck driver, was suffering from lymphocytic leukemia, a terminal illness from which he wanted the choice of Aid in Dying. He has since succumbed to his illness, but the case goes on; either way the ruling will make new law for Montana citizens. C & C is also challenging the law in Connecticut where two physicians are asking the court to clarify if the state’s “assisted suicide” law reaches the conduct of physician aid in dying. This challenge stems from a series of widely covered and tragic cases in which a dying patient asked a family member or friend to help the patient precipitate their death. See www.compassionandchoices.org for more information.

Montana plaintiff Robert Baxter

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DR. WILSONContinued from page 1

“My main message” said Dr. Wilson, “is to underline the enormous waste of public money, police time and effort into ‘investigating’ (by the Major Crime Investigating Team) the death of a terminally ill lady who had taken her own life (not a crime) and left a written statement that she had done it herself.”

Meanwhile, another physician and member of FATE, Dr. Michael Irwin, wants to challenge the new guidelines. He was questioned about his role in taking a terminally ill man to Switzerland and for helping him pay for the assistance from Dignitas. Dr. Irwin, former president of the World Federation and currently a member of the board, wants full legalization of assisted suicide in the UK.

See www.fate.org.uk

KEVORKIAN GETS WARM RECEPTION AT PENNSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY

On Sept. 20, Jack Kevorkian, 80, spoke for 90 minutes to an audience of 850 at Kutztown University, a branch of the University of Pennsylvania, on “Civil Rights, Civil Disobedience, and Criminal Justice.”

NVVE SAID TO GIVE “SUICIDE TIPS” TO MEMBERS

Radio Netherlands Worldwide reported that NVVE (Right to Die-NL) offers information on a new web site available to its members, about the correct way to take their own lives. NVVE Director, Dr. Petra de Jong, says the website is meant to give people information so that they can end their lives in a ”humane way without resorting to horrific methods like throwing themselves off a roof or in front of a train.”

There are approximately 1,500 suicides in the Netherlands every year, a large percentage are committed by people over the age of 60. “These are people who say, “my life is over, but I do not have a classifiable illness, so I am not eligible for euthanasia,” Dr. de Jong points out, “or people who are sick, but whose doctor does not want to use euthanasia.”

Membership in NVVE is open to anyone and costs 17.50 euros per year. On the site, the association gives detailed information on medicines which can be used for a self-chosen death. It also states in which countries they are available and the names they are known under. Detailed use of these methods is explained

See www.nvve.nl for membership information

The Maintenance of Life: Preventing Social Death Through Euthanasia Talk and End-of-Life Care – Lessons from the Netherlands by Frances Norwood. Carolina Academic Press 2009 ISBN 978-1-59460-518-5 Available from Amazon.com or www.cap-press.com

“Everyone who thinks about end-of-life issues should read “The

Maintenance of Life.” It is a beautifully written book on an important topic. Anthropologist Frances Norwood spent 15 months in the Netherlands, learning first-hand how the dying, their families, and their physicians confronted this difficult subject. She tells this powerful and touching story with both a close eye for personal detail and a researcher’s care….those with terminal disease have an opportunity to express their wishes (which) makes them less likely to end their lives. It is a powerful lesson for us all.” (Review by H. Gleckman, from Amazon.com)

World Right-to-Die Newsletter-7Winter 2010

Books and dVdsHeadlong by Susan Varga University of Washington Press 2009 ISBN-10: 1921401230Available from Amazon.com

This is a fictional account of an elderly mother’s planned act of throwing herself in front of a train (as the author’s mother did). The main themes of the book include: rational suicide and the “tired of life” phenomenon,

parent-child relationships, the shifting sands of responsibility throughout the life course, guild, betrayal, and the task of “carrying on.” (From Deliverance, published by Exit International, Oct-Nov 2009)

Please Let Me Die a film from NVVE. 50 minutes. See human.nl web page

This courageous film deals with the taboo of self-chosen death of people with a chronic mental disease who find their lives unbearable and utterly pointless, and who prefer death instead. There are interviews with a Dutch legislator, a public prosecutor, a psychiatrist, and a consultant from the NVVE. Made by documentary film maker, Eveline van Dijck, it was inspired by the self-elected death of her mentally ill sister.

Last Rights: Facing End of Life Choices, a film by Karen Cantor. 56 minutes. www.filmmakers.com

This DVD traces the lives of four terminally ill people and the decisions they make with their families about hastening their death. Interviews are done with Derek Humphry, Barbara Coombs Lee, a minister, a hospice doctor and Wesley Smith, a vehement opponent of this movement. Produced in conjunction with Mississippi Public Radio this is a sensitive, informative overview of why people choose a hastened death and the arguments on both sides.

Guide to a Humane Self-Chosen Death

The English version of Informatie over zorgvuldige levensbeëindiging, is now out of print (Dutch and German versions are still available). But the Right to Die Society of Canada, which was among the distributors of the book, still has a master copy, and can do selective photocopying for a small fee. There is a chapter on helium plus chapters on five drugs or classes of drugs: barbiturates, opioids , chloroquine, tricyclic antidepressants, and orphenadrine. To inquire about photocopies, e-mail info@righttodie.ca.

Daily Telegraph - August 29, 2009

SWISS GOVT TURNS AGAINST “SUICIDE TOURISM”Dignitas, the Zurich service that helps foreigners as well as Swiss, to end their lives, is under fire for “suicide tourism.” About 115 people from the UK have died there as well as people from many other countries (60% are from Germany). Ludwig Minelli, founder and director of Dignitas, writes that on Oct. 28 the Swiss Federal Council proposed to either fully prohibit any organized assistance to suicide, or to severely restrict the condition, e.g., one medical opinion would be needed to attest that the patient is mentally competent and another that death would occur soon. Chronically and mentally ill persons could not be helped.

Ludwig Minelli

DANISH ACTIVIST ACCOMPANIES MAN TO DIGNITAS; DEATH ON TV

Fifty three-year-old Kaj Guldbech, who had been suffering from incurable pancreatic cancer, ended his life at Dignitas in October, accompanied by Flemming Schollaart, founder of ETD, a Danish right to die organization. Live TV footage documented the final moments of his nine year struggle.

“If I treated my animals like we treat humans and just let them suffer, I’d be found guilty of animal abuse and neglect…” he said. In the final scene before the cameras were switched off, Guldbech was shown saying a tearful farewell, and asking for the second and final dose of medication.

EVD had become inactive since it was admitted to the World Federation two years ago due to “to massive political resistance.” Schoolart indicated that it cost 80,000 kroner (US$15,707) to have Guldbech’s wishes carried out – which he helped to raise. He is not sure if he will face criminal charges since Danish law is unclear. The matter will be taken up in the Danish parliament.

CENTURY CLUBIt is with profound gratitude that we acknowledge those supporters who contributed $100 or more to the World Federation in the last six months of 2009:

The last issue of the WF Newsletter was paid for by the Hemlock Society of San Diego.

The World Federation of Right to Die Societies (WF) links 53 Right to Die Society organizations in 26 countries Membership is open to organizations dedicated to promoting the right to die. Associate Membership is open to organizations in sympathy with those goals.

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Larry Egbert Faye GirshRobert Holzapfel Michael IrwinBernie Klein Sondra MillerHank Muller Sonja MullenbergMarthy Putz Sidney and Joann RosoffHelen Theodorou Helen Wood

Flemming Schollaart

IRISH LW ORGANIZATION IS WF FIRST ASSOCIATE MEMBER By Michael Irwin

The main purpose of the Living Wills Trust, established in Dublin in 2007 with the support of the Humanist Association of Ireland, is to provide a “pro-choice” living will to every adult throughout Northern Ireland (still part of the United Kingdom) and the Republic of Ireland. The specific Irish document can be downloaded free from www.livingwillstrust.com.

Last February, the Trust became the first Associate Member of the World Federation (to be confirmed at the Melbourne conference next year). Associate membership was established at the Tokyo conference in 2004. Associate Members can attend Federation meetings but do not have voting privileges.

It is hoped that other organizations -- such as human rights and humanist groups supporting the “right-to-die” – will apply for Associate Membership in the World Federation.

Your contribution as a Century Club member suports the work of the World Federation. Write a check for the equivalent of US $100 or more – in any currency.

Individuals may subscribe to this Newsletter for US $10/year for two issues or $18 for two years. Copies are sent gratis to all member organizations and associate members.

If U.S. currency is not convenient the WF can accept the equivalent in other currency. Send checks or money orders to

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