Jim's Quality of Life OnLine

Where is our compassion?

Elderly couple, who have lived a happy married life, decide to end it all together - because one has to go into a nursing home. They arranged to die in each other's arms.

But the suicide pact goes wrong and the husband is "saved".

Now he is being charged with manslaughter and, of course, he has pleaded "guilty". Under our what I consider disgraceful laws, how could he have pleaded otherwise?

Isn't it time we got away from the "religious" dogma built into our laws which denies us compassion - surely a big part of Christ's teaching?

When are we going to get some decent laws regarding euthanasia? Isn't it a shocking example to our divorcing young ones when we give this sort of reward to a married couple who choose to love one another right to the end.

Yours faithfully,

Jim Vickers-Willis

You are invited to visit our web site at:
www.vickers-willis.com

Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, who will be aged 100 on February the 8th, today dug up some special plants from her garden at Cruden Farm and sent them to June Middleton at the Ventilator Accommodation Support Service at 335 Clarendon Street Thornbury (Telephone: 94808100).

She heard that June Middleton had her own garden which she could view from her iron lung.

June contracted polio in 1949 while preparing for her wedding. She has been in the iron lung ever since and her 80th Birthday was celebrated in a story shown on national television. Her comment about her 59 years in the iron lung - which is recognised by Guinness world records - was "That's one of those things that happened and you have to make the best of it." The television interviewer commented that "It gives a whole new meaning to doing it tough, doesn't it?"

The plants will be delivered to June at VASS on behalf of Dame Elisabeth by iron lung polio survivor Jim Vickers-Willis at 2 pm on Tuesday November 11th. VASS is a Government institution run by Yooralla, which provides respite and long term accommodation for those with breathing problems.

Jim Vickers-Willis, who is a resident from time to time, described Clarendon House as "A magnificent place with a staff who do everything possible to make it like a home away from home.

"We are very lucky indeed to have such a fine institution available in Victoria for those who need it."

VASS telephone - (03) 9480 8100

Best Wishes,

Jim

You are invited to visit our web site at:
www.vickers-willis.com