Everyone who heard Tom Mortier speak at the recent #HOPE2015 Adelaide Symposium or at the more recent HOPE inaugural conference in Dublin, Ireland, was certainly moved emotionally by the story of the euthanasia death of his mother. She was physically well but suffered from clinical depression.The story itself is well known now across the globe. It is a clear example of the category shift in Belgium that allows now for euthanasia for a much broader range of circumstances than was ever envisaged when the law was debated and passed in 2001 and 2002. It is also a very clear example of what happens when the pursuit of autonomy moves past the natural boundaries of application to a point where even familial relationships count for little. "You've just taken away the suffering of one person and transposed it to another!' " Tom to Dr Distelmans.Tom is a dear friend. We spent a few days sightseeing and talking after the Adelaide event. As he has said repeatedly that he never asked for this. His life and that of his family have been radically altered by events beyond his control. He declares quite openly that he is not an activist. But he is someone who is grappling with the pursuit of justice; and that in a country where he finds that the cultural shift towards accepting euthanasia as a right sees him as one of only a few voices of opposition.No-one should ever experience such life-shattering events. But as Tom says, he knows that he is not the only one. There are others. The pursuit of justice needs a voice. Tom is such a voice. And while it is difficult and deeply frustrating to seek for justice to be done in an environment where many, if not most, cannot see the problem; justice will be done. Justice may be portrayed as a blindfolded woman, but she will have her way.During the Adelaide symposium and also since returning to Belgium, Tom has been co-operating with the Australian SBS television network in the production of a documentary. He also co-operated with Rachel Aviv from The New Yorker in a recently published expose on Belgium's love affair with euthanasia. I urge readers to consider how difficult it must be to retell these events time and time again. Tom is not seeking the limelight nor to bring attention to himself but, rather to an issue that cries out for justice; not just for himself, his mother and his family, but for his entire beloved homeland of Belgium.I encourage anyone who genuinely wishes to gain an understanding about Belgium's experiment with euthanasia to read the New Yorker article (linked here).We should all keep Tom and his family in our thoughts with gratitude for his incredible courage. Continue reading

"utterly inspiring, genuine and informative.""It is a very long time since I have experienced such a satisfying conference, one in which I did not wish to miss a single session.""The speakers, topics and especially the hardworking conference staff made the Symposium an experience I will remember for a long time.""This was an excellent opportunity for Australians to meet leaders from around the world who are working to oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide and learn what is really happening.""The personal testimonies of those who have experienced either the voluntary or involuntary euthanasia of a loved one was a powerful witness to the hurt and injustice being practiced."(These are some of the comments provided by participants in the HOPE post-symposium survey.)In 2011, in Toronto, I promised Alex Schadenberg that HOPE Australia would host an International Symposium. It has taken nearly four years to fulfil that promise!The May 22nd and 23rd Symposium brought together speakers and participants from across the globe for a packed program over one and a half Autumn Adelaide days. Under the theme of 'Standing Strong, together' we explored the data, the personal stories, recent developments overseas and heard a clear message about the absolute necessity of co-operation across the spectrum of opposition.The full Saturday program was preceded by two concurrent afternoon sessions on the Friday where leaders and medical personnel met separately to consider their roles in these debates.Professor Theo Boer from The Netherlands opened the Saturday program via video recording. Professor Boer was not only once a supporter of the Dutch legislation, from 2005, he was also a member of the Dutch Euthanasia Evaluation Commissions that review the cases of euthanasia on behalf of the government. As he reported, he became increasingly disturbed at what he was seeing.Boer's comments echo precisely the story told through the anecdotes and the data, encapsulating the concerns and reasons for the #HOPE2015 event, worth quoting here extensively: "First, as of 2007, the number of assisted deaths has increased by 15% annually, year after year. Whereas the numbers in 2003 were well under 2,000, the figures are well above the 5,000 line in 2014. One out of 25 people in the Netherlands now dies with the assistance of a doctor. My conclusion is that once assisted dying becomes available, the level of palliative care doesn't matter that much. What was once considered a last resort, now becomes a 'default' mode of dying for an increasing number of people.""Whereas in the first years hardly any patients with psychiatric illnesses or dementia appear in reports, these numbers are now sharply on the rise. Cases have been reported in which a large part of the suffering consisted in age related complaints. Loneliness occurs in 50 out of the last 500 cases that I reviewed before stepping back. Many of these patients could have lived for months, others for years or even decades. We have seen a number of ground breaking cases: 'euthanasia for two', for example couples in which the caregiver gets cancer and his partner chooses to die the same day and the same way; euthanasia in blindness; euthanasia for a man with autism who fears retirement; assisted dying for a mother of two suffering from tinnitus.""In 2012, under the name 'End of Life Clinic,' a nationwide network of travelling euthanasia teams became active. On average, these doctors see a patient three times before administering the lethal drugs. There is no patient-doctor relationship prior to a request. More than forty teams have been formed, and hundreds of cases are done each year. Whereas other doctors have an array of palliative care at their disposal, doctors of the End of Life Clinic have only two options: to administer life-ending drugs or to send the patient home empty handed. And whereas an average doctor will provide assisted dying perhaps once in one or two years, some of these doctors report two-digit numbers each year.""For years I supported the Dutch law on assisted dying. But as we speak, I have more concerns now than ever before. I am worried that the liberty of some may lead to a loss of freedom of others. I am worried that more and more elderly people will consider themselves too big a burden. And I fear the moment at which a future government will rule that children should contribute financially to the health care of their parents. My concerns are shared by many, even of those who see no intrinsic objections to assisted dying. The Netherlands has considered itself a guiding country when it comes to assisted dying. A professional guide will not lead his clients down a road that he knows to be risky. For now, I therefore recommend countries that are considering to legalize assisted dying, to wait and see where the Netherlands and Belgium will be in ten or twenty years. I am not saying that a country should never make a legal arrangement. It may have to. But if one views assisted dying only as a last resort - as I think most countries that are contemplating legalization do - then first have a look at the Dutch and the Belgian examples."If Professor Boer set the scene, the next session drove home just how real the problems associated with a culture of death actually are. It is difficult to write this without still being emotionally affected by the testimonies of Marie Gleeson, Judi Taylor and Tom Mortier concerning the loss of a loved one to this 'creeping death cult', as one called it. Justice may be elusive and she may be blind, but she does and will have her way.The symposium covered a great deal of ground. We heard from disability activists, both local and international about the 'frontline' work that they engage in and how important it is to work in coalition with others. This is in keeping with an important principle: that everyone who opposes euthanasia and assisted suicide is welcome and that we leave all other issues at the door for the sake of the common cause that brings us together.On that practical level we were also provided with some very recent examples of good campaigning from Tasmania, the USA and the UK as well as examples of where partnerships between organisations and individuals have worked particularly well.We also heard from Alex Schadenberg and Brendan Malone about how we can be effective in presenting our message, the role of young people and engaging with the media.Many people commented that the session covering medical issues, ethics and the data could perhaps have been much longer. With presenters like Dr Paul Dunne, Henk Reitsema, Alex Schadenberg and Dr John Fleming, I don't doubt that we could have devoted an entire afternoon to their particular subjects without any loss of attention!The day was ably rounded off by an address by Dr Kevin Yuill from the UK presenting the Liberal, Humanist case against assisted suicide and by Catherine Glenn Foster who presented a tour de force of the global legal landscape.We were honoured to hear from The Hon Kevin Andrews MP, our guest speaker at the symposium dinner. Kevin shared with us all some insights into the 1996/1997 debate in our Federal Parliament (on a bill that colloquially bears his name) that saw the very first euthanasia laws in the world overturned. Though many of us will have known a great deal about that debate, Kevin shared some moments and some insights which no-one I spoke to had ever heard before. It was a fitting conclusion to what, from all reports, was considered to be an excellent event!A huge 'thank you' to everyone who attended the symposium and to our speakers who gave so generously of their time. Thanks also to our major sponsors, CalvaryCare and Amadio Wines for their generosity and commitment to this cause. Thanks also to my daughters, Miriam and Hannah who worked so hard to keep the event running smoothly and also to the HOPE committee for their support and hard work.Let's make sure that we all learn from this event in ways that make us more effective and committed to ensuring that our home states, wherever that might be, remain free from euthanasia and assisted suicide!The video recordings of the event and special interviews will be produced into a DVD set shortly that is designed specifically for educational purposes. Make a note to order your copy shortly! Continue reading

By Alex SchadenbergInternational Chair - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition The recent 2015 HOPE International Symposium opposing euthanasia and assisted suicide featured many excellent speakers, including Professor Tom Mortier, who's depressed mother died by euthanasia in Belgium.Rebecca DiGirolamo interviewed Mortier at the Symposium in Australia for the Southern Cross news. Continue reading

HOPE Symposium. Adelaide May 2015. "I am worried that the liberty of some may lead to a loss of freedom of others." Professor Theo BoerOn the 22nd and 23rd of May this year, 110 people opposed to euthanasia & assisted suicide converged on Adelaide, South Australia for the Fourth International Symposium associated with the work of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition International.Drawing delegates and speakers from across the globe, the focus of this event was: Standing Strong, together. Supporting the necessity of working together across diverse backgrounds for our common cause of opposing euthanasia & assisted suicide law.The event was hosted by HOPE: preventing euthanasia & assisted suicide in partnership with Euthanasia Free New Zealand, Doctors Opposed to Euthanasia and the disability network, Lives Worth Living.Opening the full day program was an address via video from Dutch Professor, Theo Boer. Readers may recall that on 10th of July last year a headline in the UK Daily Mail thundered:Don't make our mistake: As assisted suicide bill goes to Lords, Dutch watchdog who once backed euthanasia warns UK of 'slippery slope' to mass deaths.Former member of one of the Dutch Euthanasia Evaluation Commissions, Theo Boer, had changed his mind and had begun to warn other countries of his concerns about the Dutch experiment.Boer reminded delegates about what it was that had created his about face. These issues included the rapid escalation in number, the expansion of the criteria, the creation of mobile euthanasia teams etc., all leading to his conclusion that, "(p)erhaps the mere existence of a law is an invitation to see assisted dying as a normality instead of a last resort. The Dutch and Belgian laws on assisted dying, instead of being a respectful compromise, much rather function as stepping stones towards more radical changes in the way we organize our deaths. The offer of assisted dying may be a relief to some. But it also sends unwanted signals to terminal patients, elderly citizens, to people suffering from life, yes, to anyone who knows that life can very, very hard. The signal that death may be a good remedy for suffering. The signal that a natural death is a terrible and inhumane death. The signal that autonomy equals dignity. The signal that in the end we can do without you and that we're not the ones to keep you in the boat."Boer worries that this push for, 'the liberty of some may lead to a loss of freedom of others.'As the day unfolded, we heard Boer's chilling concerns echoed through the voices of some who had been directly affected by this creeping culture of death. As I observed, though Belgium and the Netherlands have advanced well beyond legalisation that the effects of this creeping death culture are evident even in places, like Australia, where euthanasia & assisted suicide remain as unlawful acts.Boer summarised: "Needless to say, we should respect if patients refuse life-prolonging treatment. But actively helping them to die is of a different category. As I said, I can sympathize with those acts on an individual and exceptional basis. But I am no longer convinced that such exceptional acts deserve a legal basis. A society's signal that it is willing to organize the death for its citizens simply involves too many risks."Many years on, this is an echo from the very earliest inquiries into euthanasia. It's not a matter of 'we told you so' - the realities are so harsh and culturally debilitating for cheap point scoring. But it does speak to us about the nature of things; that, regardless of what people may choose to believe about the possibility of containment of a law or the safety of any law, that there will always be those who are at risk, there will always be exceptions and that exceptions will become the rule. Continue reading

Adelaide, South Australia On May 22nd & 23rd 2015, people opposing euthanasia & assisted suicide will assemble from across the globe in Adelaide, South Australia for the Fourth International Symposium on Euthanasia.The first event of its type in the southern hemisphere organiser, Paul Russell, says he is looking forward to hosting 'the best event yet!' "We're assembling speakers from Europe and North America along with the very best Australia has to offer" says Russell.Adelaide has been for some years the 'canary-in-the-coal-mine' for euthanasia bills; in recent years as many as three euthanasia bills were being debated at the same time. Australia was also the first place on earth to pass euthanasia law in the mid-1990s and remains the only place to have ever overturned such a law; a point that Russell stresses, should make us all think very hard about creating such laws.The event entitled 'Standing Strong, together' is designed to showcase the very best in campaigning advice, look to the very latest reports and testimony from around the globe and to help build capacity and networks in support of local action."One of the major focal points for the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition International over the last three years since its inception is to develop a worldwide fraternity of academics, medicos and activists who work together to build a bulwark against euthanasia and assisted suicide legislation in their locale, supported by colleagues in other places" said International Chair, Alex Schadenberg. "We need to sell the message that anyone who opposes euthanasia, regardless of whatever else they may support and regardless of what they believe or don't believe, is welcome."This idea of 'creative partnerships' is critical to the continuing opposition to both euthanasia & assisted suicide says International Vice Chair and symposium host, Paul Russell. "If you take a look at recent campaigns in the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, and while every campaign is different, there's a common thread to success in the co-operation as equals of many groups such as pro-life groups, disability groups, medical associations amongst others. It makes sense to work together."The Adelaide HOPE symposium is a partnership between HOPE, Euthanasia Free New Zealand, disability advocates, Lives Worth Living, Doctors Opposed to Euthanasia and the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition International.Speakers and delegates will assemble from the USA, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, Belgium and The Netherlands as well as from across Australia. Anyone who opposes euthanasia and assisted suicide is welcome.You can read more and book for the event at www.conf.noeuthanasia.org.au or contact Paul Russell at [email protected] Some of our confirmed speakers:Professor Theo Boer (NL). Professor Boer made international headlines earlier this year when he announced that, after supporting the Dutch euthanasia laws and being a nine-year member of a regional euthanasia evaluation committee, that he had completely changed his mind. Continue reading