Ojnab, as a member of Dying with Dignity I know about the issues the VE societies have with Philip Nitschke, but your anger should be directed to the politicians and those who constantly do everything to block a voluntary euthanasia law in Australia. I must say all VE bills supported and initiated by VE societies have been so very restrictive that you need to be almost dead to be eligible, yet none of the bills have been successful. To even suggest, that Philip Nitschke is to be blamed is very naïve and shows a lack of understanding what kind of political forces are behind the refusal to have an Euthanasia Law in Australia. I know that “Dying with Dignity” as well as “Your last Right” think by distancing themselves from Exit/Philip Nitschke they will get this ‘squeaky clean image’ which gives your organisations the image of being responsible and trustworthy and hoping with this image it would be easier to get an Euthanasia Law pass the Parliament. Using Philip Nitschke as a scapegoat for the failure of getting finally the Euthanasia Bill through the Parliament might come handy for you and works with some of the ‘hardliner’ in Dying with Dignity, but your naïveté is a laughable and very restrictive view which hasn’t convinced me. Many Dying with Dignity members are also members of Exit, I am one of them. Disappointed of what Dying with Dignity offered me on help I turned to Exit and got the information and help I needed. I am very grateful to Exit.
Apropos money, Neil Francis, chairman and CEO Your last Right, receives a very handsome salary ($180.000) for his work to campaign for VE. Part of the money comes out of the Clem Jones Estate, but also from Dying with Dignity/VE societies. Meaning part of my membership goes to Neil Francis’ salary. I'm sure Philip Nitschke would love to have that sort of money. However, I support Dying with Dignity as well as I support Exit International. Each organisation has a different approach and I think both could co exist side by side.