Philip Nitschke
Dr. Philip Nitschke (born 1947) is an Australian medical doctor, humanist and founder of the pro-euthanasia group EXIT. He successfully campaigned to have a legal euthanasia law passed in Australia's Northern Territory and assisted four people in ending their lives before the law was overturned by the Federal government.
Career
Since assisting four people in ending their lives, Nitschke has provided advice to others who have ended their lives, mostly notably Nancy Crick, aged 69. On May 22, 2002, Crick, with over a dozen friends and family (but not Nitschke) present, took a lethal dose of barbiturates, went quickly to sleep, and died within twenty minutes. Nitschke had encouraged Nancy Crick to enter palliative care, which she did for a number of days before returning home again. She had undergone multiple surgeries to treat bowel cancer, and had suffered a decline in her standard of living due to complications of the treatments. Most of the criticism for in case came after it was revealed that Nancy Crick was not terminally ill at the time of her death.[1]
In January 2007, he published the controversial book The Peaceful Pill Handbook, which was prohibited by Australian federal censorship regulator, the Office of Film and Literature Classification at the end of February 2007 [2]. The book was banned in New Zealand on 8 June 2007 by the New Zealand Office of Film and Literature Classification, not because it advocates for euthanasia, but because it gives instructions on drug manufacture and other crimes.[3] In May 2008, it was allowed for sale if sealed and an indication of the censorship classification was displayed.[4]
Nitschke has been criticised for his stance on euthanasia, and for creating and providing devices to aid people who want euthanasia, including a product called the "exit bag" and the "CoGen" device. Used together, the CoGen device generates the deadly gas carbon monoxide, which is inhaled with the "exit bag."[5] He caused controversy in New Zealand when he announced plans to accompany eight New Zealanders to Mexico and help them purchase the potentially life-ending drug Nembutal.[6]
In 1998, Nitschke was recognised as the Australian Humanist of the Year by the Council of Australian Humanist Societies.
Politics
In the 2007 Australian federal election, Dr. Nitschke ran against the Australian politician Kevin Andrews in the Victorian seat of Menzies but was unsuccessful. [7]
References
- ^ Link text additional text.
- ^ "The Peaceful Pill Handbook Refused Classification upon review" (pdf). Classification Review Board. 2007-02-24. p. 1. Retrieved 2007-05-04.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "The Peaceful Pill Handbook Banned". OFLC. 2007-06-10. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Office of Film & Literature Classification decision
- ^ "The CoGen". Exit International. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
- ^ "NZ offered Mexican Suicide Drug Trip". The Age. 2007-02-06.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Election results for the seat of Menzies (Australian Electoral Commission)". 2007-11-26.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)
External links
- http://www.internationaltaskforce.org/austr.htm
- http://www.exitinternational.net/
- http://www.ldp.org.au/federal/policies/Assisted_Suicide.html
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