Monday, November 11, 2013

Nitschke to open euthanasia clinic as Bob Such MP opens euthanasia debate in South Australia

The Australian media are reporting that Philip Nitschke, Australia's Dr. Death, intends to open a euthanasia clinic in South Australia by the end of the week while Independent MP, Bob Such will re-open the debate.


Philip Nitschke
The article in the Australian Herald Sun stated:
A Euthanasia clinic set up in Adelaide will test drugs, distribute nitrogen kits and "provide services" to terminally ill patients. 
It is expected to start taking patients by the end of the week.
The Herald Sun reported that:
Although he conceded it was "a grey line, this idea of giving people advice" about euthanasia. 
Dr Nitschke said Adelaide was chosen as the site for Australia's first euthanasia clinic and research laboratory because legislation attempting to legalise voluntary euthanasia in South Australia was before Parliament.
Nitschke explained that Bob Such's euthanasia bill has led him to opening a euthanasia clinic. The Herald Sun reported him to have said:
Dr Nitschke said the Ending Life with Dignity Bill, proposed by Independent MP Bob Such, "could well pass through the SA parliament in the near future and the services offered by the euthanasia centre will become critical". 
The clinic is expecting a couple of patients a week, including some who travel from interstate.
The Australian newspaper reported on the status of the Australian Medical Association investigation into Nitschke. The Australian stated:
Dr Nitschke said he had received recent communication from the Medical Board of Australia about two current investigations into his medical registration and suitability to practice medicine. 
He said he was advised in a November 1 letter that the investigations, which have been running for two years, are still ongoing "because of the nature and complexity of the issues being investigated".
According to Paul Russell, the director of HOPE Australia, Such only has two parliamentary days to get his bill through the legislature. Russell says that Such claims to have made changes from his last euthanasia bill, but the bill remains as misguided and dangerous as his previous euthanasia bills.
The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition predicts that Bob Such's euthanasia bill will once again be defeated in South Australia.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's about freedom of choice. If you don't want to die, don't call Nitschke. If you do (want to die) at least you won't be forced to jump under a train and so ruin some poor train driver's life.

Alex Schadenberg said...

I never publish Anonymous comments, but this time I have made an exception since it isn't always about freedom of choice.

Your philosophy fails when we speak about euthanasia because someone else is killing you.

1. You cannot divorce the act from the actor.
2. It simply isn't always freedom of choice, and Jan Bernheim admitted that this problem does exist in Belgium.