A Personal Message from Derek Humphry

Final Exit Network is a new organization dedicated to serving people who are suffering intolerably from an incurable condition. Network volunteers offer you counseling, support, and even guidance with self-deliverance at a time and place of your choosing - always your choosing. The Network will never encourage you to hasten your death!

The organization accepts members with cancer, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Alzheimer's disease, congestive heart failure, emphysema, and other incurable conditions.

I believe so much in what they are doing that I agreed to let them use the title of my book, Final Exit, as part of their name. I also agreed to serve on their Advisory Board. I actively support their goals now and I will do so in the future.

The people who created this organization have been volunteer leaders in the right-to-die cause for many years. You may recognize some of their names on the Board and Advisory Board. They have been active in Hemlock (now End-of-Life Choices - EOLC) as Caring Friends Volunteers, members of the national board and as chapter leaders - some served in several of these roles. They came together to form Final Exit Network because they know that many deserving people are not being supported the way they should be.

They believe that many in desperate need are not being served at all.

Final Exit Network needs your support so they can help you and others. You can help by becoming a member. You can help even more by making an additional donation to this very important work!

Please read on for complete details on what your membership will include.

Sincerely, Derek Humphry Author, Journalist, Founder of The Hemlock Society

ergo@efn.org

While we acknowledge the importance of Oregon's landmark death-with-dignity law, it remains under assault by the US Justice Department, its future uncertain - and it only serves the citizens of one state. We also endorse the valuable work of other organizations in the movement to change the laws and serve a small segment of those in need. But the harsh facts of political life for the movement's advocacy organizations inevitably demand compromises that dictate that far too many will slip through the cracks. Final Exit Network will serve those whom other organizations turn away.

WHO WE ARE:

• Earl Wettstein, Tucson, Senior Caring Friend Volunteer, national Hemlock/EOLC Board member (resigned 2004)
• Ted Goodwin, Atlanta, Caring Friend Volunteer, national EOLC Board member and Treasurer (resigned 2004)
• Bob Brush, San Diego, Caring Friend Volunteer, state and local chapter leader, national EOLC Board member (resigned 2004)
• Nancy Bedell, Michigan state chapter Board member and officer; chapter activist
• Ila DeLuca, Arizona, national EOLC Board member, founder of three chapters in two states (resigned 2004)
• Dr. Larry Egbert, Baltimore, Senior Caring Friend Volunteer, national EOLC Board member (resigned 2004 before his term began)
• Ruth von Fuchs, Toronto, President, Right-To-Die Society of Canada
• Dr. Rosalie Guttman, Chicago, Illinois state chapter leader
• Derek Humphry, author, journalist, Founder of the Hemlock Society

OTHERS WHO JOINED US:

• Jean Gillett, Palo Alto, Caring Friend Volunteer, California chapter leader
• Arthur Metcalfe, San Diego, former national Board Chairman, former national Treasurer, former California chapter leader, national Board member (resigned 2004
• Andi van der Voort, Hawaii, Hawaii chapter leader, prime mover in that state's near-successful legislative actions.

People seeking guidance on self-deliverance must be members in good standing. Members asking for help need to supply a doctor's medical diagnosis for our Evaluation Committee, and they must also attest that all relevant family members or caregivers support the member's wishes.

1. Northwest
2. Southwest
3. North Central
4. South Central
5. Northeast
6. Southeast
7. Northern California
8. Southern California
9. Hawaii

Your individual needs and timetable will be evaluated and coordinated by your Exit Guide. The Network will provide you with information on all alternatives for care at the end of life, including all legal methods of self-deliverance that will produce a peaceful, quick, and certain death.

Final Exit Network will be, as much as possible, a "virtual" organization that will communicate by internet and telephone. There are no plans to invest your dues or donations in costly staff or offices.

Name________________________________________ Address______________________________________ _____________________________________________ City_______________________State___ZIP________ Phone________________________________________ Email_________________________________________ ^{Email is very important for economical communication with Final Exit Network.}

Mail to: Final Exit Network P.O.Box 965005 Marietta, GA 30066 Final Exit Network is only able to help those who are Members.

CRITERIA FOR A MEMBER'S ACCEPTANCE INTO THE FINAL EXIT NETWORK PROGRAM:

1. You must be cognitively functional.
2. You must be physically strong enough to perform the required tasks.
3. You must have an incurable condition that causes intolerable suffering.
4. You must understand the "window of opportunity" which exists while you still have the mental and physical capability to perform the required activities.

CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH WILL PREVENT NETWORK INVOLVEMENT:

1. When security of those who may be present at the time of death cannot be guaranteed.
2. When relevant family, friends, or caregivers know about the member's plans and are strongly opposed.
3. When the Exit Guide is uncomfortable with either of the above circumstances.