"Dr Death" gives seminars on 'sidestepping' laws
Australian euthanasia advocate Philip Nitschke, "Dr Death" gives NZ seminars on how to sidestep law to give assisted deaths
3 April 2003
The man nicknamed 'Dr Death' claims New Zealand is at the cutting-edge of the euthanasia debate.
Philip Nitschke is Australia's euthanasia advocate and inventor of the controversial euthanasia assistance device, the 'exit' bag.
He is in New Zealand for a series of public addresses starting in Auckland tonight. The focus will be teaching people how to get around the law to carry out assisted deaths. He also plans to show the audience how his controversial 'death machine' works.
Dr Nitschke says the debate surrounding assisted suicide is gaining momentum around the world, and New Zealand is well involved as it prepares proposed 'death with dignity' euthanasia legislation which is due to go before Parliament.
But he says like most countries, New Zealand laws inhibit assisted suicide.
Dr Nitschke will also attend the next court appearance of a woman accused of helping her terminally ill mother to commit suicide.
Lesley Martin will appear in court for a pre-depositions hearing in Wanganui next week.
Meanwhile, Melbourne newspaper, The Age, reports that Dr Nitschke foiled Melbourne customs officers who searched him to find the controversial 'death machine'.
The paper says officers went through his bags, computer files and speech notes, but could not find the tubes or other hardware for the carbon monoxide-generating (COgen) machine.
Dr Nitschke had taken the precaution of sending the component parts separately, after having the prototype machine and drawstring plastic suicide bags confiscated previously, when he left Australia for the United States.
The machine will cost around $100.
© 2009 NZCity, IRN
