Exit appears to have established a suicide promotion website in Canada

Paul Russell

By Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition.

The Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) placed restrictions on Philip Nitschke, the founder of Exit International, an Australian based group that promotes and sells suicide drugs, devices, information and books. The AHPRA was responding to 12 complaints that the AHPRA received concerning Nitschke and Exit.

Paul Russell, the Director of HOPE Australia, responded to the AHPRA decision by stating:

“The medical board are implicitly stating that suicide advocacy is not an appropriate pursuit for a doctor. If not for a doctor, then we say: not for anyone.” 

“This murky world of suicide advocacy needs to be put to a stop for the sake of vulnerable people of all ages.”

HOPE Australia is calling for:

"a full inquiry and investigation into Exit International and the entire suicide death industry."

In response to the HOPE Australia call for a full inquiry into Exit International, the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) is urging the federal and provincial governments in Canada to investigate an Exit International website that was recently launched in Ontario to sell suicide drugs, devices, information and suicide guide books.

This website violates every restriction that the AHPRA placed on Philip Nitschke and Exit.

This suicide promotion website was launched shortly after the irresponsible and dangerous Supreme Court decision to strike down Canada's assisted suicide and euthanasia laws. 

Due to concern for Canadians who live with depression and other psychiatric conditions that leave them vulnerable to suicide, we will not publicly name the website.

• Suicide promotion has led to more youth suicide in Australia.
• Philip Nitschke is being investigated in 20 deaths.
• Nitschke: An undetectable death or murder?
• Suicide prevention organization issues medical board complaint against Nitschke.