Jim's Quality of Life OnLine

An open letter to the Senate's Legal and Constitutional Committee which is inviting submissions about Senator Bob Brown's voluntary euthenasia bill
____________________

Dear Committee Members,

The Oregon (USA) Act has been in force for 10 years without any abuse. Why not show the same mercy to Australians?

I was lucky enough to escape from the iron lung after polio. I was an entertainer and had the support and encouragement of thousands of dancers, plus a brilliant wife. My three mates in iron lungs alongside me each had a prognosis which gave them no chance of escaping. They lived in the iron lung for years and years -- can you imagine that?

Your hands and legs are inside and you cannot even scratch your ear or knock a fly off your nose. You are alive, but it's hard to have any quality of life -- for years and years. It made me think about the rights of people to say to their doctor "I have had enough" My three mates died in the iron lung.

Oregon has shown the way - simple legislation, with all necessary safeguards, permitting a doctor to hand to his incurable patient the necessary prescription which that patient can use if they wish.

Please give this your most careful consideration: You have the ability to give comfort to thousands of older Australians and to save so many from unnecessary misery.

Yours faithfully,
JIM VICKERS-WILLIS
Visit us at: www.vickers-willis.com