Thursday, December 7, 2017

Irresponsible media articles promote Nitschke and suicide.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

"Dr Ted"
I am shocked by the media promotion of Philip Nitschke's new suicide device. Nitschke is being compared to prominent persons and his suicide device is being promoted as an easy and painless death. 
A previous death device was sold by Nitschke through a fake beer brewing company.

Nitschke lost his medical license in Australia for providing suicide instructions to people with mental health issues and to a man who was suspected in the death of his wife

Nitschke has been a world-wide euthanasia promoter for many years and is connected to pro-suicide counseling service that included a youth suicide counseling component where he encouraged young people to contact him with the image of a teddy bear known as "Dr Ted."

It is one issue that Nitschke is so cavalier about providing pro-suicide counseling and advice; it is another issue that the media are promoting his suicide device and ideology.



Last year the World Health Organization (WHO) updated their guide: Preventing suicide: a resource for media professionals. The summary of the WHO guide states:
  • Don't place stories about suicide prominently and do not unduly repeat such stories,
  • Don't use language which sensationalizes or normalizes suicide, or presents it as a constructive solution to problems,
  • Don't explicitly describe the method used,
  • Don't provide details about the site/location,
  • Don't sensationalize headlines,
  • Don't use photographs, video footage or social media links.
Most of the media reports have broken all of these guidelines in their report about Nitschke's death machine.

A Psychiatrist sent me an email with the following comment about Nitschke's death machine:
This is a terrible development (particularly for our psychiatric patients).
I share the concerns of my Psychiatrist friend and I recognize that many suicidal people are not receiving the psychiatric or social support that they need and may feel compelled to contact Nitschke. Nitschke is a disturbingly dangerous man.

7 comments:

  1. "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. They may be more likely to go to Heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a Hell of earth. This very kindness stings with intolerable insult."

    This quote aptly describes this organization. It's about personal autonomy and choice. Nitschke has helped many people suffering intolerably from unamenable conditions.

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  2. Tell that to Judith Taylor and the other parents who have lost their children and other loved ones to Nitschke and his death cult.
    https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.ca/2015/07/promoting-assisted-suicide-has-led-to.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What does Nitschke have to do with this man's death? Nitschke didn't gave him the information on Nembutal, in fact you cannot even access the Exit international forums if you are under 50. That means this man stole identification from his mother and used it to sign up for the forums. Faulting Nitschke for this is non-sensical.

      The fact of the matter is that Nitschke and his organization have helped many people suffering from unamenable debilitating illnesses choose an end to their suffering. Your life cultism, and religion does not offset that.

      Delete
    2. Nitschke had nothing to do with that death, Exit won't let you access their forms without age verification.
      Just because someone gets their hand on information that was not intended for them and uses it to exit, does not mean Exit international is at fault. That's like blaming gun makers whenever somebody with a gun uses it to cause harm.

      Delete
  3. Nitschke is a hero who has helped many people die with dignity. It's about personal autonomy and choice.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sadly, it is easy to get on the Exit website. Your comments are false.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Age verification is needed to sign up for the site. That means this person falsified his information. Blaming Nitschke for this is non-sensical.

      Delete