X-Message-Number: 7094
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 1996 18:44:30 -0700
From: David Brandt-Erichsen <>
Subject: Australia update

The information which follows is based on a Reuter's news release written by
Terry Friel.
  	  				 
CANBERRA, Australia, Oct 29, 1996 - Dr. Philip Nitschke, an Australian
euthanasia supporter, warned Tuesday that some terminally ill patients might
hasten to seek approval to use the world's first voluntary euthanasia law
fearful that the law might be overturned by Australian politicians. 

"People are feeling they want to act quickly because they see there's a
window of opportunity and it's about to be slammed shut," said Nitschke, who
in September helped cancer patient, Bob Dent, become the first to die using
the law.  Dent's son, Rod, made an impassioned plea on Monday to politicians
not to overturn the law.

Australia's parliament Monday began debating a bill to overturn the law,
which took effect in the remote Northern Territory in July. 


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