Dr Philip Nitschke
"to break an unjust law is a moral imperative; not to break an unjust law is to collaborate with it."

Dr. Philip Nitschke is the doctor who legally helped four terminally ill people to die under the Northern Territory's Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995.
The Northern Territory government became the first in the world to legalise voluntary euthanasia in 1996. But following an outcry by church leaders, right-to-lifers and Northern Territory aborigines, the Australian government passed legislation overriding the law eight months later.

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Nitschke plans NZ euthanasia workshops, 07/06/2006, © AAP

Australian right-to-die advocate Dr Philip Nitschke plans to hold two euthanasia workshops in New Zealand in August after the government decided not to pursue legal action against him. The New Zealand government last week decided not to prosecute Nitschke over a Medical Council complaint he was practising medicine illegally by holding such workshops.

The Darwin-based activist, who is not registered as a medical practitioner in New Zealand, provoked the complaint by holding three gatherings earlier this year.
"We had planned to run a program for this group in April, but the actions of the Medical Council delayed that," Nitschke said.
The Health Ministry said there was not enough evidence to support a prosecution. Nitschke invited Medical Council members to attend the August workshops in Auckland and Wellington.
"They will see that what we do is give rational adults material that enables them to feel that they are in control of their lives and deaths, and that this is no more 'practising medicine' than advising people how they should adopt a healthy diet," Nitschke said. He said a large number of people had been turned away from a workshop in January because of demand.

Workshop participants had an average age of 72, were generally in good health and wanted to know more about their end-of-life options, Nitschke said.
Assisted suicide is illegal in New Zealand.
Nitschke moved some of his Exit International operations to Auckland in January in response to a new Australian law against giving advice on suicides by phone, fax or the internet.

Police to take no action on Nitschke at this time, 02/03/2006, United Future NZ Party ©

In response to a complaint lodged by United Future MP Gordon Copeland, the Police have decided not to proceed with a charge against Dr Philip Nitschke. They advise that counselling someone to commit suicide is not, in itself, criminal and needs to be accompanied by evidence that a suicide, or attempted suicide can be related to that counselling.
“I accept the Police’s analysis of the law in that regard,” said Mr Copeland. “However, Dr Philip Nitschke should now regard himself as on notice. It seems obvious to me that, if he continues to encourage vulnerable people to take their own lives (including a detailed explanation of how they should go about killing themselves) then it is only a matter of time before cause and effect will come together and he will have crossed the line into criminal activity. I would hope too that the Coroners of New Zealand take note of the Police advice on this issue. Probably the point has been reached when coroner’s inquests should trace back to see whether the counselling advice obtained from Nitschke, whether in person or via his website, is related to the suicide being investigated. The Police also need to remain vigilant in that regard.”

Euthanasia campaigner angers Medical Council, 21/02/2006, NZPA ©

The New Zealand Medical Council has ruled that Philip Nitschke - known as "Dr Death" - has been practising medicine at his euthanasia workshops and therefore needs to be registered.
The Australian doctor, who advocates voluntary euthanasia, held workshops in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland last month which included advice on manufacturing his "peaceful pill", a deadly barbiturate-based chemical cocktail. Participants were advised to collaborate to make the pills, so police would find it hard to prosecute.
"At the time that Dr Nitschke presented his workshops, and despite having been made well aware of the council's requirements, he was not registered and did not hold an annual practising certificate [APC]," said council chairman John Campbell.

The matter has been referred to the Ministry of Health to consider what, if any, further action is needed. It was possible Dr Nitschke could be prosecuted because offering any suicide assistance was illegal, he said.
But police had earlier said prosecution was difficult, especially without knowing the ingredients of the pills.

Dr Nitschke gained a high profile for his association with Wanganui euthanasia campaigner Lesley Martin, who was convicted of attempting to murder her mother.

Medical council tight-lipped over 'Dr Death' decision, 15/02/2006, www.stuff.co.nz ©

The Medical Council remained tight-lipped yesterday on whether Dr Philip Nitschke, known as "Dr Death" had been practising medicine at workshops in New Zealand. The Australian doctor, who advocates voluntary euthanasia, held workshops in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland last month which included advice on manufacturing his "peaceful pill", a deadly barbiturate-based chemical cocktail. Participants were advised to collaborate to make the pills, so police would find it hard to prosecute.

The council had since asked Dr Nitschke to confirm whether the workshop summary previously forwarded to the council in April 2004 remained the basis for the workshops that were held, or alternatively to forward to the council his updated workshop outline. Dr Nitschke has since responded, but the details have not been made public.
Council chairman Professor John Campbell said the council had considered Dr Nitschke's response.
"As a matter of courtesy (the council) will be advising him of its decision, before making any further public comment on the matter."

New Zealand Police had said prosecution was difficult, especially without knowing the ingredients - but any suicide assistance was illegal.
The council said he could face legal action if he promoted the pill as he was not registered as a medical practitioner.

Dr Nitschke gained a high profile here for his association with Wanganui euthanasia campaigner Lesley Martin, who was convicted of attempting to murder her mother.

Euthanasia advocate coming to New Zealand, 30/12/2005, http://washingtontimes.com ©

An Australian advocate of assisted suicide says he sees no need to register as a doctor in New Zealand before lecturing there on his suicide pill.
Philip Nitschke, sometimes known as Dr. Death, plans to give workshops but says he will not show how to make the pill as he has in Australia. The pill includes a barbiturate that he says can bring death in about 20 minutes. The Medical Council argues that Nitschke is giving advice on medical matters and needs to register.
"Many other doctors and medical experts come to New Zealand and speak at conferences and seminars without getting registration," Nitschke told the Wellington Dominion-Post. "I'm no different. All this is way over the top."
Nitschke is head of Exit International. He plans to speak in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch.

Plans to set up peanut workshops, 13/11/2005, © NewsTalkZB

There are plans for so-called "peanut workshops" to be set up in New Zealand.
Euthanasia campaigner Philip Nitschke is planning to commute back and forth from Australia, basing more of his organisation 'Exit' on this side of the Tasman. It is a way of getting around new laws in Australia, banning discussion on end-of-life choices. Dr Nitschke, known as Dr Death, says he will now be operating much of his business via his New Zealand-based website and has already had offers of support from the Voluntary Euthanasia Society to do this. He says he will be introducing workshops which teach elderly and sick people how to make a suicide cocktail.

Campaigner doesn't welcome "Dr Death", 12/11/2005, © NZCity, NewsTalkZB

New Zealand's best-known euthanasia campaigner, Lesley Martin, has no particular welcome for Dr Philip Nitschke.

The man dubbed 'Dr Death' for his work on assisted-suicides, should not expect a welcome from New Zealand's best-known euthanasia campaigner, Lesley Martin.Dr Philip Nitschke says he will be forced to move to his country once tough new legislation comes into force in Australia next year. Ms Martin says she broke away from Dr Nitschke's organisation 'Exit' and started up 'The Dignity Trust' after getting out of prison last year. She felt Dr Nitschke was focusing too much on getting around the law, rather than changing it.
She says he is perpetuating the secrecy and myth surrounding end-of-life decisions. Lesley Martin says Dr Nitschke is entitled to do whatever he needs to do, to push for change in Australia.

Meanwhile the immigration department says Australians do not need a permit to visit or work in New Zealand. But Deputy Secretary Mary-Anne Thompson says they do still need to meet certain requirements and can be denied entry if they have been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment or if they are likely to commit a crime once they are here. She says entry criteria are applied to individuals on a case-by-case basis and people are screened on arrival. Ms Thompson says on average around 20 people are turned around at the border each week.

Volunatry Euthanasia Society says it would be delighted if Dr Philip Nitschke decided to move here from Australia, 12/11/2005, © NZCity, NewsTalkZB

Euthanasia campaigners are looking forward to welcoming the so-called 'Dr Death' to New Zealand. Australian euthanasia campaigner Dr Philip Nitschke has said he will have to move here from Australia once their tough new laws banning discussion about end-of-life choices come into force next year.

The New Zealand Voluntary Euthanasia Society describes the legislation as draconian and spokesman Jack Jones says they have offered to lend Dr Nitschke office space and the use of their website if he crosses the ditch. Mr Jones says New Zealand would benefit from Dr Nitschke's expertise. He says society members would queue to go to any one of the doctor's euthanasia workshops. Jack Jones says Dr Nitschke is a humanitarian and a world expert on assisted suicides.

Euthanasia laws could force Nitschke out, 11/11/2005, © AAP

Euthanasia advocate Dr Philip Nitschke says he will be forced to move his business offshore because of fresh federal legislation that bans discussion about end-of-life choices. The legislation, which passed parliament in July, prohibits discussion about euthanasia choices over electronic services such as the telephone or the internet.
The new laws, which come into force on January 7 represent the latest move by Canberra against voluntary euthanasia, which it outlawed eight years ago under pressure from right-to-life groups and churches.

The federal government passed legislation in 1997 to override laws introduced by the Northern Territory eight months earlier legalising euthanasia. Dr Nitschke was the driving force behind the NT legislation - a world first - and assisted four terminally ill patients to kill themselves before the laws were overturned. He said on Friday the latest legislation would mean his pro-voluntary euthanasia group Exit Australia will have to move its operations to New Zealand.
"If I am talking to someone over the phone and they ask about certain dosages and I give them information then that will be illegal from next year," he said from Darwin. "We have always been able to get around the illegality of assisting someone to die by merely providing people with information. Now even that will be hard for us."
Dr Nitschke said it would be expensive to move his operation overseas - increasing costs by 50 per cent - but it didn't mean he would be tossing in the towel. He says the New Zealand Volunteers Euthanasia Society had offered assistance.
"They are amazed our federal government is being so proactive in making life difficult for us," he said. "Nowhere else in the world has been as predatory as the federal government has been in Australia."

Under the new laws, Dr Nitschke will still be able to discuss people's end-of-life choices verbally - as long as there is no electronic equipment involved. He said he would divide his time between New Zealand and the Northern Territory and still conduct information workshops across Australia.
"Our books will also still be available which is good; the government hasn't resorted to book-burning just yet.
"These laws are basically the federal government's attempt to appease the religious right in Australia."

Activists may spam PM over suicide laws, 06/11/2005, AAP ©

Prime Minister John Howard may be spammed with suicide "how-to" emails early next year when right-to-die activists protest the introduction of new suicide laws. The civil disobedience was discussed at the final day of the Exit International pro-euthanasia conference held in Brisbane at the weekend. Some 250 elderly Australians, Canadians and Americans attended the third biannual meeting to discuss their right to choose when they die.
A key concern is the amendment to laws regarding suicide-related material, which is due to come into effect in January 2006. A guest speaker, civil libertarian Terry O'Gorman, discussed the bill of amendments that will make it illegal to discuss euthanasia by telephone, internet or letter.
"The bill inserts three new offences into the Australian criminal code dealing with the use of a carriage service to access, transmit or otherwise make available suicide-related material," Mr O'Gorman said. "The religious right, the socialist left, or the modern middle ... have a right to their views, but they do not have the right to impose their views, particularly on moral and civil liberties issues, on the rest of us."

Euthanasia advocate Dr Philip Nitschke said if caught breaking the new laws, individuals could be hit with a $120,000 fine and organisations with a $500,000 fine.
A motion was passed at the meeting to undertake civil disobedience on January 7, 2006, when the laws come into effect.

Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce was met with boos at the conference on Saturday when he said euthanasia could become a lucrative cop-out for governments if Australia adopted more liberal assisted-suicide laws.

Advocates hold suicide fair, 05/11/2005, © www.theadvertiser.news.com.au

SAMPLE bags that doubled as suicide devices, mugs emblazoned with "I'd rather die like a dog" and a video showing a group of elderly Australians making a deadly pill were on show at a right-to-die conference, which opened in Brisbane today.

Today was the first day of Exit International's Peaceful Pill Conference, hosted by euthanasia advocate Dr Philip Nitschke. A group of mostly elderly pro-euthanasia protesters drew attention at a publicity stunt yesterday when they were turned away from a Queensland police station after trying to apply for gun licences.
"The funny thing is, people who believe strongly in euthanasia actually love to live," said Carmel Margenburg, a visitor to the two-day conference being held at Brisbane's Convention and Exhibition Centre. "People want to know they can execute this situation at a time if they desperately need it. Often if they know (that option) is there, it doesn't happen," said Judy Dent, widow of Bob Dent, the first person in the world to die using legislation which legalised euthanasia for a brief time in the Northern Territory. The mere fact that you can get this prescription (for a barbiturate) have it locked in your cupboard just in case, it's a security blanket."

Speakers at the conference includes politicians Lyn Allison and Barnaby Joyce, media representatives and members of The Peanut Project team, a group who, with limited knowledge of chemistry, spent a weekend concocting the barbiturate nembutal.
"(It) shows in a fairly assertive way the levels to which elderly folk are prepared to go and the level of sophistication they are prepared to adopt," said Dr Nitschke. If you can make a barbiturate, put it in the cupboard, you'll know you've got the choice you want, and if people have got that, that don't care if they've got the law or not."

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