‘Dr Death’ backs beliefs

Right-to-die campaigner Dr Philip Nitschke believes elderly people who are denied the freedom to end their lives peacefully will likely meet a “grim” end.

“I don’t think we should be denying this group access to vital information about taking their own lives – if we do, they will go to desperate measures such as hanging themselves – which remains older Australians choice of preference,” Dr Nitschke tells DPS News.

“Every year the statistics are grim and horrible, and show people in total desperation who cannot obtain information – and I believe people are generally happier when they have choices,” he adds.

Despite Dr Nitschke’s controversial and unconventional approach placing him in the firing line numerous times, he continues his work and is now holding workshops across the country to teach people – generally the elderly – how to end their lives without involving family or friends.

Speaking to DPS News after his Brisbane workshop, Dr Nitschke claims his work is motivated by “compassion and love”.

“(Elderly people) may find themselves in a situation where if they don’t prepare, if they sit on their hands … they can become so sick that they might have to beg someone to help them,” he says.

“As soon as you move across that line and get someone else to help you … you’re looking at breaching Queensland law,” he adds, stating laws carrying a maximum life imprisonment penalty are “out-dated and harsh”.

He says his workshops, which he reports as “good medical practice” are dominated by people aged in their late 70s to early 80s who are particularly healthy but are interested in finding out information on their choices if they become “seriously ill”.

“They have the right to know how to go about ending lives peacefully and in a reliable way,” he claims.

Dr Nitschke’s workshops detail information on specific drugs proven “reliable” in achieving a peaceful death and outlines the “mistakes” some people may make when taking their own life.

“It’s very specific material which strikes a cord at the end of these workshops, making it very clear to the person about information which they have been waiting a long time for – and this gives them great comfort,” he claims.

However, critics refute DrNitschke’s “hard” approach, with Australian Medical Association president, Dr Steve Hambleton, telling DPS News the association does not support euthanasia.

“We support appropriate palliative care and appropriate pain relief using a holistic approach support. Both psychological and spiritual support is encouraged to ensure people are assisted at that difficult time,” he says.

He encourages people to take advantage of Advanced Directive Health plans, which will help to “respect” the person’s wishes and provide “comfort” for relatives.  

Similarly, Palliative Care Australia tells DPS News: “Euthanasia and physician assisted suicide is not part of palliative care practice. We believe every Australian at the end of life should have timely and equitable access to quality, needs based and evidence based care.”

Dr Nitschke will hold Melbourne workshops next week.

Do you support Dr Nitschke’s ‘unconventional’ approach or are you against it? Share your thoughts on his work by commenting in the box below.