Nitschke does not have approval to import Nembutal into Australia.

Australian controversy

In the past few days, Philip Nitschke, Australia's Dr. Death, has been claiming that he has received permission from Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to import Nembutal, a drug used by veterinarians for large animal euthanasia, for human euthanasia use.

Nitschke claims that he found a loophole in the TGA rules that would allow him to import the lethal drug.

Paul Russell, the founder of HOPE Australia, received information from the TGA that indicated that Nitschke had not been given approval to import the lethal drug.

Paul Russell

Yesterday, the Sydney Morning Herald confirmed the report from Paul Russell in an article titled: Nitschke to source euthanasia drug that has not been approved. The article in the Sydney Morning Herald stated:

"Nembutal is not approved for use in Australia. The Therapeutic Goods Administration said it had not given Dr Nitschke permission to prescribe the drug."

At the same time, Nitschke is attempting to find a source of the drug for import. The Danish manufacturer of the lethal drug is hesitant to be connected to Nitschke and his death dealing controversy. They were also hesitant to be connected to the use of the drug for capital punishment deaths in the United States.

The Sydney Morning Herald article stated:

"THE right-to-die campaigner Philip Nitschke will look to India and China to source a drug not yet approved in Australia that is used overseas to assist suicides."

This has become an important issue in Australia because some of the media are reporting that Nitschke has approval to import the lethal drug while others, including HOPE are stating that he does not have permission.

Meanwhile a euthanasia bill in the South Australian parliament will be voted-on today.