|
|
|
This Day in History
This week on 22 September marks 30 years since Bob Dent became the first person in the world to receive a legal, lethal, voluntary injection.
|
Bob's death on 22 September 1996 was enabled thanks to the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act of the Northern Territory.
|
This law lasted 9 months before the Federal Parliament of Australia overturned the Act. It would be another 20 years before the State of Victoria passed their voluntary assisted dying act.
|
In Canberra this week, Exit held our 30th Anniversary of the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act Conference.
|
|
The Conference report will follow next newsletter. Exit thanks the organising team and all those who attended for making the event such a success and so memorable. A very fitting way to remember this momentous time in Australian and world right to die history.
|
|
|
|
2 Years Ago Today
On 23 September 2024, the Sarco was used for the first time in a beautiful Swiss forest. The device was used by a seriously ill American woman. She died quickly and peacefully.
|
The woman paid no fee to use the Sarco at The Last Resort in Switzerland.
|
At the current time, the Schaffhausen prosecutor continues his investigation, trying to ascertain if this assisted suicide was legal.
|
From Exit's point of view and based on the organisation's extensive legal advice, there should be no legal question to answer.
|
The motives of those who assisted were altruistic. The woman had mental capacity (according to her psychiatric report the week before) and she operated the capsule herself.
|
Her decision to die was long-held and considered and was taken the context of unbearable suffering and with a medical condition for which there was no cure.
|
A more clear cut case of 'doing the right thing' does not exist.
|
That said, 2 years on and we are no closer to having Sarco again available for use in Switzerland.
|
Just delayed is justice denied ...
|
|
On this day, Exit especially remembers Dr Florian Willet. Florian was the only person present when the Sarco was used. Upon release after 70 days pre-trial detention in Schaffhausen prison, Florian was diagnosed psychotic. He died tragically by assisted suicide in Germany in May 2025.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|