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.

• Suicide promotion has led to more youth suicide in Australia.
• Australian Medical Association expels Nitschke.
• Australia's Dr Death is being investigated in 20 deaths.
• Suicide is a symptom of mental illness, not a cure for it.

Australia's Dr Death still Mr Death after medical suspension appeal lost.

This article was published on the HOPE Australia blog on January 7, 2015.

Australian Medical Board Tribunal dismisses Nitschke’s appeal

Paul Russell debating Philip Nitschke

By Paul Russell, Director of HOPE Australia.

In a media release today from Exit International, suspended doctor, Philip Nitschke, often dubbed ‘Dr Death’, notes that the Northern Territory Health Professional Review Tribunal has rejected his appeal against the suspension of his medical practice certificate by the South Australian Medical Board.

Nitschke was suspended from medical practice in July 2014 after an ABC Western Australia TV interview regarding the death of Perth man, Nigel Brayley drew the ire of suicide prevention organisations. The medical board said it was necessary to suspend Nitschke immediately over the need to ‘protect public health or safety’. Nitschke appealed the suspension on a number of grounds; most notably that he had no professional relationship and therefore no duty of care as a doctor towards Nigel Brayley’s welfare in regards to his decision to commit suicide.

The tribunal appeal hearings, originally to be heard in Adelaide, South Australia, were eventually heard in Darwin, Northern Territory over three days in November after Nitschke successfully argued that the place of his medical registration was the appropriate place for the hearings.

Nitschke says in his press statement that he intends to appeal the suspension decision to the NT Supreme Court claiming that the Tribunal made ‘clear errors in law’.

The suspension itself was made pending the hearing of 12 complaints lodged with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency over the last three years against Nitschke, including one by this author over two years ago in respect to the promotion of suicide apparatus using nitrogen.

Former Minnesota nurse who admitted to counselling suicide of Canadian teen is going to jail.

By Alex Schadenberg

Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Nadia Kajouji

The Canadian Press reported that William Melchert-Dinkel, a former Minnesota nurse, has been sentenced to 178 days in jail for his part in the death of Canadian teen, Nadia Kajouji and Mark Drybrough, from Coventry England.

CP Press report stated:

William Melchert-Dinkel was ordered Wednesday to serve 178 days in jail. 

He was sentenced to nearly five years in prison, but he won't have to serve the prison term if he complies with conditions of probation that include the jail time. 

The 52-year-old was convicted in September of one count of assisting a suicide and one count of attempting to assist a suicide in the deaths of Mark Drybrough, 32, of Coventry, England and Nadia Kajouji, 18, of Brampton, ON. 

The convictions came after the Minnesota Supreme Court narrowed the state's assisted-suicide law and reversed earlier convictions.

British family reacts to the appeal of the assisted suicide conviction by a Minnesota suicide predator.

By Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Mark Drybrough

The Birmingham Mail UK reported about the concern of the victim's family related to the appeal by a former Minnesota nurse, in his conviction, in the assisted suicide death of Mark Drybrough. The article states:

A brave Midland family who have TWICE seen an American nurse convicted of assisting the suicide of their son fear the sick predator could still escape justice.

Twisted William Melchert Dinkel – exposed by the Sunday Mercury as a predator using online chatrooms to encourage vulnerable victims to kill themselves – has been convicted of intentionally assisting the suicide of Mark Drybrough. 

Amazingly, it is the second time that the evil nurse has been convicted of the offence.

Melchert-Dinkel was obsessed with suicide.

Evidence showed he was obsessed with suicide. He sought out depressed people online and then posed as a female nurse, feigning compassion and offering step-by-step advice on how they could kill themselves. 

Melchert Dinkel later admitted to police that he had entered into fake suicide pacts with 10 people – five of whom he believed had killed themselves, including Mark.

Former Minnesota nurse convicted of attempting to assist the suicide of Canadian teen.

Alex Schadenberg

Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Nadia Kajouji

William Melchert-Dinkel, a former nurse from Minnesota, was convicted of assisted suicide in the death of Mark Drybrough from England and convicted of attempting to assist the suicide of Canadian teenager Nadia Kajouji. Melchert-Dinkel preyed upon suicidal members of a chat-room and urged Drybrough and Kajouji to allow him to watch them die by suicide.

An Associated Press article reported that:

In his ruling, Judge Neuville said Melchert-Dinkel provided both Drybrough and Kajouji with detailed information about how to hang themselves, and that Drybrough followed his instructions. However, he noted that while the defendant gave Kajouji detailed and specific instructions about hanging, she did not follow them and chose another method. So the judge said Melchert-Dinkel was guilty only of attempting to assist her suicide.

Drybrough

Melchert-Dinkel was found guilty in 2011 of encouraging the suicide deaths of Drybrough and Kajouji. He appealed his convictions and in October 2012, the Minnesota Supreme Court agreed to hear the appeal.

March 19, 2014 the Minnesota Supreme Court overturned the convictions by deciding that encouraging a suicide is protected as free-speech. At the same time the Supreme Court upheld Minnesota's state law prohibiting assisting a suicide of a person.

The Associated Press article, today, stated that:

Evidence in the case showed Melchert-Dinkel was obsessed with suicide and sought out depressed people online. He posed as a suicidal female nurse, feigning compassion and offering step-by-step instructions on how they could kill themselves. He acknowledged participating in online chats about suicide with up to 20 people and entering into fake suicide pacts with about 10, five of whom he believed killed themselves.

Melchert-Dinkel's lawyer, Terry Watkins, told the media that they planned to appeal the decision.

Rice County prosecutor, Paul Beaumaster, said that the judge meticulously followed a Minnesota Supreme Court decision from last March that narrowed the state's assisted suicide law.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition holds that it is a crime to counsel or assist a suicide. Most people contemplating suicide need support. Suicide voyeurs, like Melchert-Dinkel, take advantage of people at a vulnerable time in their life.

People need to be protected from assisted suicide in all of its forms.

Links to more information on this story:

• Minnesota Supreme court upholds ban on assisted suicide.
• Minnesota Supreme court to hear assisted suicide case.
• Suicide predator, Melchert-Dinkel is appealing his conviction.
• Melchert-Dinkel sentenced in his double conviction for assisted suicide.
• Suicide predator found guilty on two counts of assisted suicide.
• Philip Nitschke and Melchert-Dinkel.

US Prosecutors seek new conviction for nurse in assisted suicide death of Canadian teen.

By Alex Schadenberg

Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Nadia Kajouji

The National Post reported on Friday August 8 that Minnesota prosecutors are seeking to once again convict William Melchert-Dinkel, a former nurse with an obsession with suicide voyeurism, with assisted suicide in the death of Canadian teenager, Nadia Kajouji. The article stated:

Prosecutors argued Friday that a former nurse should be convicted of assisting suicide for sending emails and other online communications in which he urged two people in Canada and Britain to kill themselves and gave them information on how to do it.

Melchert-Dinkel, 52, was back in court more than three years after he was convicted of encouraging suicides in the deaths of Nadia Kajouji, 18, of Brampton, ON., in 2008 and Mark Drybrough, 32, of Coventry, England, in 2005.

Mark Drybrough

Melchert-Dinkel's previous conviction was overturned by the Minnesota Supreme Court, earlier this year, after they ruled that the definition of encouraging or advising suicide was too broad and restricted his "freedom of speech." The Supreme Court ruling upheld the assisted suicide law and Minnesota prosecutors argued that Melchert-Dinkel contravened the law. The article stated that:

Evidence at that trial showed Melchert-Dinkel was obsessed with suicide and sought out depressed people online, posing as a suicidal female nurse, faking compassion and offering detailed instructions on how they could kill themselves. Police said he told them he did it for “the thrill of the chase,” and allegedly wanted to watch his targets die via a computer webcam. 

In a hearing Friday, Assistant Rice County Attorney Terence Swihart said the state Supreme Court had defined “assist” as providing a person with what they need to die by suicide. 

According to court documents, he acknowledged participating in online chats about suicide with up to 20 people and entering into fake suicide pacts with about 10, five of whom he believed killed themselves. 

His online pseudonyms included “Falcon Girl” and “Cami D.” 

William Melchert-Dinkel

The defense acknowledged the charges but claim that his acts are protected by "freedom of speech." The article stated:

“We are not condoning his actions and there is no attempt to suggest that anything he did is anything but salacious, immoral or depraved. But we believe this it was protected by the first amendment of the constitution.”

Melchert-Dinkel encouraged people at their most vulnerable time to commit suicide. He acted like a friend using a false name and he gave them instructions for suicide while encouraging them to do the act on front of a webcam. Melchert-Dinkel should be prosecuted.

Links to articles related to this story.

• Minnesota Supreme Court assisted suicide decision.
• Melchert-Dinkel appealed his conviction in death of Nadia Kajouji.
• Melchert-Dinkel convicted in internet suicide predator crimes.

Assisted Suicide groups linked to suicide promotion website.

By Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

I was reading a tragic news story about an American teenage girl who committed suicide by following instructions that she found on a suicide promotion website.

This tragic story reminded me of an article that I wrote in April 2008 titled: Suicide Promotion more common than Prevention in web searches that concerned research published in the British Medical Journal indicating that there were more websites promoting suicide than preventing suicide.

The author of the report stated:

“Overall, the searches uncovered 240 unique sites about suicide, just under half of which provided information about how to commit suicide. Nearly one-fifth of the hits as well as the top three most frequently occurring sites were for pages that promoted suicide. Only 13% of the sites were dedicated to suicide prevention and support, and only 12% actively discouraged suicide. Most of the sites -- even some of those dedicated to suicide prevention -- provided information on methods of suicide.”

According to the article statistics show that:

Worldwide, about one million people die from suicide every year. It is a leading cause of death in teens and young adults.  

Most people who commit suicide are suffering from a mental illness, such as depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia.

I decided to do my own research to find out if suicide promotion websites were still common. What I found out from my google search was sadly shocking. 

The first site that came up was the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which may have been based on paid google ads. The next internet links were recent news articles.

The second highest ranked site was an insidious suicide promotion website that combined suicide prevention information with information about how to commit suicide, suicide methods with instructions and links. 

The site also promoted and linked to euthanasia and assisted suicide lobby groups and leaders.

This site was designed to lead people who are seeking information about suicide prevention to information and instructions promoting suicide. This dangerous and deceptive website was only one of many suicide promotion websites that came up in my search.The scourge of suicide promotion websites not only continues, but it shows that there is a clear connection between groups and individuals who promote suicide with the groups and individuals who lobby for the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide.

People who are seeking suicide are usually depressed and vulnerable. They need protection from suicide predators and internet suicide sites that 

In 2008, the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) urged Canada's federal government to update laws protecting people from assisted suicide by adding language that would make it a crime to aid, encourage and counsel suicide via the internet in a similar manner as laws that protect people from child pornography. Vulnerable people need laws to protect them.

The Your Life Counts Online Lifeline is a safe and secure website for anyone who is thinking about suicide or is seeking information about suicide prevention.

Australia's Dr Death, Philip Nitschke, to lose medical license.

By Alex Schadenberg

International Chair - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Philip Nitschke, Australia's Dr Death, stated in an email update today that the Australian Medical Board plans to de-register his medical license on Thursday, July 24 at midnight.

The decision by the Australian Medical Board to de-register Nitschke is related to several complaints that were filed against him especially the recent complaints that were filed in relation to the suicide death of Nigel Brayley (45) who was healthy, but depressed after being investigated in the murder of his wife.

The issue related to the death of Nigel Brayley began with an article published by ABC news Australia titled: Families and friends concerned about who's being advised by euthanasia advocate Dr Nitschke which uncovered the controversy related to Nitschke advising Brayley on how to commit suicide.

Paul Russell

The article was followed by a media release from Paul Russell, the director of Hope Australia demanding a national inquiry into the suicide deaths associated to Nitschke's work promoting suicide.

Russell is also the Vice Chair of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition International

I published an article comparing the current news stories related to Brayley's suicide death to previous news stories related to other Nitschke related deaths.

Paul Russell followed up with an article, the next day, reporting the response of suicide prevention groups, BeyondBlue and the Black Dog Institute to the comments by Nitschke related to the death of Brayley.

The Chairman of BeyondBlue and former Premier of Victoria, Jeff Kennett referred to Nitschke's actions as a gross breach of the Hippocratic Oath while stating:

"As a long-time supporter of euthanasia for the terminally ill, for those for whom the dignity of life has been lost, and under special conditions, I believe Dr Nitschke's latest act has crossed the line of decency and professional conduct. ... 

"I trust the appropriate Medical Board or Boards, and Governments will move quickly to investigate Dr Nitschke's latest act. He has done society a great disservice, and in my opinion should no longer be registered to practise as a medical professional."

Jeff Kennett

A few days later, Kennett and BeyondBlue, issued an official complaint to the Australian Medical Board. In the official complaint Kennett stated:

Dr Nitschke has coined the phrase “rational suicide” to attempt to justify his recent action. There is no such thing as a “rational suicide”. 

What he has supported is death. The taking or ending of a life. Some might even say murder of an able-bodied Australian who was in need of professional help. 

Dr Nitschke has also inferred that anyone of sound mind should have the right to end their lives, regardless of age or condition. How totally reprehensible! Unacceptable.

It goes against everything we at beyondblue and like organisations and governments are working to deliver, a much lower suicide rate.On Thursday, July 17, Paul Russell wrote another article announcing that Philip Nitschke had 48 hours to defend being struck off the medical board.

Nitschke aids suicide of healthy depressed man.

By Alex Schadenberg
International Chair - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Alex Schadenberg

ABC News in Australia reported that euthanasia promoter, Philip Nitschke, is being questioned for his involvement in the suicide death of Nigel Brayley (45) who died in May 2014 after ingesting a lethal dose of a veterinary drug that was illegally imported into Australia.

According to ABC News, Nitschke, who promotes euthanasia and sells suicide manuals and devices via the internet, admitted to aiding Brayley's suicide:

In emails obtained by the ABC, Mr Brayley admitted to Dr Nitschke he was not "supporting a terminal medical illness", but said he was "suffering". 

Now Dr Nitschke is being accused of moving into uncharted territory by agreeing to assist Mr Brayley despite knowing he was not terminally ill. 

AUDIO: Listen to PM's report (PM) 

"If a 45-year-old comes to a rational decision to end his life, researches it in the way he does, meticulously, and decides that ... now is the time I wish to end my life, they should be supported. And we did support him in that," he said.

The circumstances related to Brayley's suicide death are also concerning. The article stated:

friends Kerry and Trish O'Neil could see Mr Brayley's life spiraling out of control after the death of his wife Lina, who died at a local quarry in 2011 in what was at first thought to be an accident. 

The case was upgraded to a murder inquiry, and while police never named Mr Brayley as a suspect, he told the O'Neils the investigation and the loss of his job had made him depressed. 

In the weeks before his death he told Dr Nitschke that he planned to take his own life. 

"We had a lot of communication with Nigel, he'd been in touch with us for a while, he'd joined the organisation," Dr Nitschke said.

Minnesota Supreme Court upholds ban on assisted suicide but declares ban on encouraging suicide unconstitutional.

By David Chanen, The Star Tribune - March 19, 2014 (link to original article)

Minnesota Supreme Court

Reversing the conviction of an ex-nurse for urging two people to kill themselves, the Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the state’s ban on “encouraging” suicide but upheld the prohibition on “assisting” suicide.

The court said that the state law’s language prohibiting someone from assisting a suicide doesn’t violate the U.S. Constitution’s free-speech protections.

In 2011, William Melchert-Dinkel, a former nurse from Faribault, was convicted of “advising and encouraging” the suicides of a man in England and a teenager in Canada whom he had met online. In finding the “advising and encouraging” language unconstitutional, the state high court sent the case back to Rice County District Court.

That court must determine if Melchert-Dinkel can be prosecuted for “assisting” the two suicides, a question it did not rule on previously.

Justice Alan Page offered the sole dissent in Wednesday’s ruling.

Nadia Kajouji

Melchert-Dinkel’s one-year prison sentence had been on hold until the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Melchert-Dinkel, 51, was convicted on two counts of aiding suicide in the deaths of Mark Drybrough, 32, of Coventry, England, who hanged himself in 2005, and Nadia Kajouji, 18, of Brampton, Ontario, who jumped into a frozen river in 2008.

His case has drawn intense legal scrutiny, along with one focused on a group called the Final Exit Network and two of its members in connection with the suicide of an Apple Valley woman.

Nitschke is selling suicide kits in the United States.

By Alex Schadenberg, International Chair - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Sign the petition to Stop Nitschke from selling Max Dog Suicide Kits in the USA.

In his most recent newsletter, Philip Nitschke, Australia's Dr Death, claims to have found a way to import suicide kits into the United States, starting January 2014, under the cover of his Max Dog "Brewing" kit.

Nitschke admitted that his Max Dog kits are in fact Suicide kits.

Not Dead Yet commentary on Final Exit Network court case in Minnesota.

The following article was written by Stephen Drake, the research analyst with the disability rights group Not Dead Yet and published on March 27, 2013 on the Not Dead Yet blog.

Minnesota: Some Charges Against Final Exit Members Thrown Out, Two Defendants and Serious Charges Remain.

Stephen Drake

Stephen Drake, March 27, 2013

It’s been awhile since we’ve written about the Final Exit Network (FEN), but there are new developments in the criminal case against members of the group. You can read earlier posts on the case in Minnesota here, here, here and here.

Here’s an excerpt from a summary on NPR on the Frontline site (Frontline producers are big fans of FEN):

A Minnesota judge has ruled that part of the state’s law against assisted suicide is unconstitutional, in a ruling that could bolster right-to-die advocates’ efforts to overturn it. 

Judge Karen Asphaug made the decision in striking charges on March 22 against Thomas Goodwin, the former head of the Final Exit Network, a right-to-die group that has been accused of illegally assisting in the death of a 57-year-old woman suffering from chronic pain. 

It’s a felony in Minnesota to intentionally “assist, advise or encourage” suicide. Asphaug ruled that “advising” infringed on Goodwin’s right to free speech, since there was no evidence to directly implicate him in the woman’s death, and was therefore unconstitutional. The judge also struck down an assisted suicide charge and a charge for interfering with a death scene against one member, Roberta Massey.

There are still serious charges against the two remaining defendants:

The Final Exit Network and the two remaining defendants still face serious charges:

• Lawrence Egbert, 84, who worked as Final Exit Network’s medical director, reviewed applications from people wishing to end their lives. Prosecutors say Egbert flew to Minnesota the day Dunn died. Egbert has been charged with two felony counts of assisting in a suicide, and two misdemeanors counts of interfering with a death scene.

• Roberta Massey, 66, was a case coordinator, prosecutors say, and had contact with Dunn on the phone. One count of assisting with a suicide and another of interfering with a death scene was dropped against her last week, but she still faces one felony count of aiding others to assist in a suicide. 

A third defendant in the case, Jerry Dincin, faced the same charges as Egbert. Today, the network announced that he had died of cancer, at age 82.

Lawrence Egbert

If they can establish that Egbert was at the suicide, things could get really interesting, in terms of FEN’s claims of never providing assistance or material.  If that’s established, some public comments of Egbert’s in other venues could become relevant.  Here’s an excerpt from a post last May that discusses some of the challenges Egbert could face in the courtroom:

The reporter is pretty careful in most cases in this story to qualify statements about FEN practices with wording such as “the website states.” 

That’s important because not all of what the FEN website claims is true. Take this, for example, from the latest article: 

A Final Exit Medical Committee reviews information, and if approved, an “Exit Guide” is assigned who provides detailed information how a person may purchase equipment and take steps to end their own life, according to the website.“The Network never supplies equipment,” the website states.That right there – about FEN never supplying equipment.  It’s not true.  How do we know?  The overly-modest and zealous Dr. Larry Egbert told us so, in an interview that appeared in the Washington Post in January: 

Egbert tells me that years ago he asked someone who was about to “exit” if he could reuse the hood to save future patients the cost of buying a new one. The patient was delighted with the idea, Egbert says. He started asking everyone.The hood in my bare hands feels slightly slick. So, this one, the one I’m holding, has been used to end someone’s life? I ask. Egbert tells me it has surely been used at least once, and maybe several times, and the same could be said for most of the other 17 hoods in the garbage bag.  

So, Egbert, by his own admission, has provided equipment on a regular basis in his work as an ‘exit guide.’  That might seem like a minor point to some in and of itself, but the fact is, there is no way for us – the public – to verify any claim FEN makes.  It’s only when someone like Egbert gets to talking and bragging we get to hear some facts that depart from the established script.

We’ll wait and see what happens when they go to trial.

Minnesota Supreme Court to hear Assisted Suicide case.

Nadia Kajouji

Mark Drybrough

The Associated Press has reported that the Minnesota Supreme Court has agreed to hear the appeal of the conviction of William Melchert-Dinkel. Melchert-Dinkel was convicted in the assisted suicide deaths of Nadia Kajouji, a 18-year-old Carlton University student (Ottawa) who was living with depression, and Mark Drybrough, a 32 year old from Coventry England who was living with depression.

The Associated Press article stated:

The Minnesota Supreme Court has agreed to hear the appeal of a former nurse convicted of searching out suicidal people in online chat rooms and encouraging them to commit suicide. 

William Melchert-Dinkel (MEHL'-kurt DINK'-uhl) of Faribault (FAYR'-boh) was convicted in 2011 on two counts of aiding suicide. The Minnesota Court of Appeals in July rejected his argument that he was merely practicing free speech. 

In an order Tuesday, the state Supreme Court agreed to review the case. A date for oral arguments has not been set. 

Melchert-Dinkel was convicted in the deaths of 32-year-old Mark Drybrough, of Coventry, England, and 18-year-old Nadia Kajouji, of Brampton, Ontario, in 2008. 

Melchert-Dinkel faces about a year in jail unless his conviction is overturned. He remains free pending appeal.

Melchert-Dinkel admitted to being involved with many suicide deaths. Online suicide predators, like Melchert-Dinkel, convince people on a world-wide basis to commit suicide.

Some assisted suicide lobby groups are also involved on a world-wide basis with counselling people via the internet to commit suicide.

Links to previous articles concerning William Melchert-Dinkel and Nadia Kajouji.

Melchert-Dinkel assisted suicide conviction upheld.

Suicide predator, Melchert-Dinkel is appealing his conviction.

Melchert-Dinkel sentenced in his double conviction for internet suicide predator crimes.

Suicide Predator found guilty on two counts of assisted suicide

Judge refuses to dismiss case against Melchert-Dinkel.

Prosecutor says it was not "free speech."

Philip Nitschke and Melchert-Dinkel.

Is Philip Nitschke different than Melchert-Dinkel?

British Columbia man charged with assisted suicide of depressed woman.

Kenneth Carr

An article written by Rochelle Baker and published in the Abbotsford Times titled: Abbotsford man convicted of manslaughter now accused of steering woman to suicide, reports that Kenneth William Carr (53) has been charged with counselling a person to commit suicide.

The article reported that according to Const. Ian MacDonald of the Abbotsford police, the woman, who is in her 40's showed up last Thursday with ligature marks on her neck. 

MacDonald was reported to have stated:

"The family member observed the injuries on the woman's neck, and the victim told her a relatively new acquaintance had given her advice on how to commit suicide," 

"Bear in mind, this is a woman who suffers from depression."

MacDonald also indicated that further evidence is being collected concerning other suicide deaths and the public is being asked for information about further events. MacDonald stated:

"We don't have reports from other people at this point but we wanted to let people know - if they have information about similar events," 

An article published in the Huffington Post yesterday quoted a press release by Const. MacDonald that stated: 

"The investigation is troubling, not only because of the circumstances of this incident, but also because this may not have been the only time Carr has engaged in this type of criminal behaviour,"

A search warrant was executed at Carr's home. Evidence gathered there suggests this may not have been the only time the offender has allegedly engaged in counselling or abetting a suicide. MacDonald did not explain what else was found in Carr's apartment but he indicated that: 

'this was not the first time Carr got mixed up with vulnerable women who became the subject of violence.'

Carr was known to police. In 1999, Carr was convicted of manslaughter in the death of 17-year-old Katie Kaminski, who was murdered on August 25, 1997. Kaminski had been found naked and strangled by railroad tracks in New Westminster BC.

Carr is to appear in Abbotsford court today.

It is possible that Carr is a suicide predator who has been involved in several suicide deaths.

Assisted Suicide? "I was afraid to leave my husband alone again with doctors and nurses"

By Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

I was cleaning up my emails and found this incredible letter from Oregon resident, Kathryn Judson that was Published in the Hawaii Free Press, February 15, 2011 titled: Assisted Suicide? "I was afraid to leave my husband alone again with doctors and nurses".

For those who think that assisted suicide is simply an issue of "choice" they need to read this letter to understand how assisted suicide can be abused to pressure people who are living in a vulnerable condition.

Massachusetts citizens need to read this letter and Vote NO on Question 2 on November 6.

Dear Editor, 

Hello from Oregon. 

When my husband was seriously ill several years ago, I collapsed in a half-exhausted heap in a chair once I got him into the doctor's office, relieved that we were going to get badly needed help (or so I thought). 

To my surprise and horror, during the exam I overheard the doctor giving my husband a sales pitch for assisted suicide. 'Think of what it will spare your wife, we need to think of her' he said, as a clincher. 

Now, if the doctor had wanted to say 'I don't see any way I can help you, knowing what I know, and having the skills I have' that would have been one thing. If he'd wanted to opine that certain treatments weren't worth it as far as he could see, that would be one thing. But he was tempting my husband to commit suicide. And that is something different. 

I was indignant that the doctor was not only trying to decide what was best for David, but also what was supposedly best for me (without even consulting me, no less). 

We got a different doctor, and David lived another five years or so. But after that nightmare in the first doctor's office, and encounters with a 'death with dignity' inclined nurse, I was afraid to leave my husband alone again with doctors and nurses, for fear they'd morph from care providers to enemies, with no one around to stop them. 

It's not a good thing, wondering who you can trust in a hospital or clinic. I hope you are spared this in Hawaii. 

Sincerely,
Kathryn Judson, Oregon

Melchert-Dinkel Assisted Suicide Conviction upheld in Minnesota

Nadia Kajouji

The Associated Press has reported that the Minnesota Court of Appeals upheld the conviction for assisted suicide of William Melchert-Dinkel, the former Minnesota nurse and internet suicide predator, who scanned suicide prevention chat rooms with the intention of establishing an online relationship that would enable him, in the end, to watch the person commit suicide.

Court documents show that Melchert-Dinkel searched online for depressed people then, posing as a female nurse, he provided step-by-step instructions on how they could kill themselves.

Link to the article concerning the conviction of William Melchert-Dinkel.

Mark Drybrough

The lawyers for Melchert-Dinkel appealed the conviction and prison term of six years for assisting the suicides of Canadian university student - Nadia Kajouji and 32 year-old Mark Drybrough of Coventry England by claiming Melchert-Dinkel was only exercising his right to free speech.

The Minnesota appeals court disagreed stating that the First Amendment does not bar the state from prosecuting someone for "instructing (suicidal people) on how to kill themselves and coaxing them to do so."

The argument by the appeals court was similar to the previous argument that was made by the prosecutor.

Link to the article concerning William Melchert-Dinkel and free speech.

Terry Watkins, the lawyer for Melchert-Dinkel, also argued that his client didn't talk anyone into suicide instead he offered emotional support to two people who had already decided to commit suicide.

The prosecutor, Attorney Benjamin Bejar argued that Melchert-Dinkel wasn't advocating suicide in general, but he had a targeted plan to lure people to kill themselves. Bejar argued that Melchert-Dinkel convinced his victims to do something they might not have done without him.

The prosecutors stated that they were pleased with the decision by the Minnesota Court of Appeals upholding the conviction of Melchert-Dinkel.

Marc Kajouji, Nadia's brother told Michelle Zilio of the Ottawa Citizen that the court’s decision to uphold the conviction of Melchert-Dinkel, was: 

“nice to hear. The point is that it remained consistent with the original decision. But it’s not going to bring my sister back. ... It’s not a very stern penalty to say the least.”

William Melchert-Dinkel

The lawyer for Melchert-Dinkel indicated to the Ottawa Citizen that they were planning to appeal the decision to the Minnesota Supreme Court.
  
The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition is pleased by the decision to uphold Melchert-Dinkel's conviction. We know that Melchert-Dinkel is one of many online-suicide predators.

Link to an article about other suicide predators that are active on the internet.

Assisted suicide laws need to be upheld and they needs to ensure that people who establish an online relationship with others for the purpose of suicide, whether it be for voyeurism, or "false compassion" can be prosecuted for counseling suicide.

In the case of Nadia Kajouji, she was an 18 year-old first year university student who was depressed. Nadia's circumstance was not uncommon. It was Nadia's relationship with Melchert-Dinkel that turned a deep depression into a tragic suicide. The law needs to protect people like Nadia Kajouji.

The findings of fact, conclusions of law, order for judgement and Memorandum (March 15, 2011).

Link to the Fifth Estate news program - Justice for Nadia.

Oregon Governor signs into law bill outlawing sale of “suicide kits”

The Register-Guard paper in Oregon reported yesterday that Governor John Kitzhaber on signed the bill into law that outlaws the sale of "suicide kits" in Oregon.

The paper stated:

Oregon is the first state to pass legislation outlawing the sale of “suicide kits” aimed at assisting or encouraging people to take their own lives. The new law went into effect immediately after Gov. John Kitzhaber signed the bill on Wednesday.

Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, introduced Senate Bill 376 in April after learning of a young Eugene man who used such a kit, mail-ordered from California, to commit suicide in December.

The new law makes it a Class B felony to “knowingly sell, or otherwise transfer for consideration, any substance or object to another person for the purpose of assisting the other person to commit suicide.” Violation of the law carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a maximum fine of $250,000.

Nick Klonoski

The bill focused on the death of Oregon resident, Nick Klonoski (29) who lived with chronic depression and died of suicide after ordering a suicide kit from a group called GLADD in California.

Link to a previous article

This case is similar to the death of Nadia Kajouji in Canada, who died by suicide after William Melchert-Dinkel, a suicide predator, established an online relationship with her in order to convince her to commit suicide.

The law needs to protect vulnerable people from suicide websites and online suicide businesses in every state and country.