Thursday 26^th July 2001

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TAKES GIANT STEP TOWARDS PASSING VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA LEGISLATION

Sandra Kanck, the architect of the Dignity in Dying Bill currently before the Legislative Council, has welcomed its passage at second reading last night.

"Getting the Dignity in Dying Bill through to the committee stage of debate is an important step on the road to enabling people to access voluntary euthanasia," says Sandra Kanck, Democrats Deputy Leader.

"Another hurdle has been cleared on the path to improving human rights in South Australia.

"Up until last night, no Bill promoting voluntary euthanasia had reached the point of being able to be debated through the committee stage in the South Australian Parliament.

"I intend that the committee stage of debate will begin in the spring session of parliament.

"The Bill has been drafted to overcome perceived weaknesses in previous legislative efforts, and this second reading success will enable a detailed examination of each clause of the Bill and open the way for a greater understanding of the issues involved.

"Should the Bill pass both Houses of Parliament the real winners will be those people who are forced to suffer appallingly through irreversible illness or injury and the doctors who are forced to choose between supervising a degrading death or breaking the law.

"Opinion polls regularly demonstrate an overwhelming percentage of the population supports the passage of legislation enabling the hopelessly ill to access voluntary euthanasia."

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Sandra Kanck

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