By Paul Dobbyn
ANTI-euthanasia activist Paul Russell hopes the suspension of Dr Philip Nitschke from practising medicine may lead to greater public awareness of the pitfalls in allowing euthanasia to be legalised in Australia.
Brisbane archdiocese’s Queensland Bioethics Centre director Dr Ray Campbell shared Mr Russell’s opinion.
“In a sense, Dr Nitschke is a good example of why it is so dangerous to introduce any bill legalising assisted suicide, no matter what kind of limits you try and put on it,” Dr Campbell said.
Dr Campbell and Mr Russell’s comments were made against the backdrop of a push to legalise euthanasia in Australia through the Medical Services (Dying with Dignity) Exposure Draft Bill 2014.
Dr Campbell urged Catholics and other concerned parties to have input to this bill before submissions closed later this month.
The Medical Board of Australia suspended Dr Nitschke over his alleged handling of a troubled man who sought advice about how to kill himself.
The board suspended Dr Nitschke while investigations continued.
The decision followed the suicide of 45-year-old Perth man Nigel Brayley.
The man, who was not terminally ill, took his life in May this year and had communicated with Dr Nitschke.
Mr Russell, who is executive director of HOPE: preventing euthanasia and assisted suicide, said “the situation regarding the death of Nigel Brayley was the focus of a recent ABC (“7.30” TV program) report wherein it became clear that Nitschke had direct contact with Mr Brayley,” Mr Russell said.
“This revelation had suicide prevention groups such as Beyond Blue and The Black Dog Institute up in arms claiming that, as a doctor, Nitschke had a duty to counsel the man away from his suicidal intention.
“Subsequently it was revealed that Beyond Blue and the Australian Medical Association (WA Branch) made formal complaints to the medical board.”
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, which provides support to the Medical Board of Australia, launched an investigation following the ABC program.
The doctor was suspended on the grounds he was “a serious risk to public health and safety”. He has indicated he will appeal.
Dr Campbell said the situation should lead concerned Australians to oppose the current draft legislation on euthanasia before Federal Parliament. He said the bill “seeks to have assisting people to die named as a ‘medical service’”.
Dr Campbell said the experience in the Netherlands where euthanasia was legal was a warning of what happened when the practice was legalised.
“Professor Theo Boer, of the Netherlands, a former advocate of voluntary euthanasia, has just recently warned the British Government not to go down that path,” he said.
“He points to the great increase there in deaths by euthanasia and assisted suicide, and how it is extended further and further to more categories of people in his own country and other places.”
Submissions opposing the bill close on August 21.
“I would urge those concerned to make a short submission opposing this bill,” Dr Campbell said. “There are people who feel alone, isolated, depressed, or simply feel that they are losing control of their lives.
“Such people are often tempted to look at ending their lives.
“The Church firmly opposes euthanasia and assisted suicide, seeing in them an abandonment of the human person rather than an affirmation of their inherent worth.”
