CHURCH and community commentators have warned that any attempt to relax euthanasia laws would leave vulnerable people open to manipulation and coercion to end their lives.
Their concerns follow the suicide of Gold Coast grandmother Nancy Crick. Mrs Crick died on May 22, surrounded by family and pro-euthanasia supporters, at her family home.
Her actions were supported by pro-euthanasia campaigner Dr Philip Nitschke.
Dr David van Gend of Toowoomba, who is a spokesman for TRUST, an anti-euthanasia group supported by leading political, Church and medical people, said two factors could be confirmed.
‘The first is that Dr Nitschke supports death on demand, not just death for the stereotyped cancer patient in terrible pain,’ he said.
‘Dr Nitschke misled the public by not admitting that Mrs Crick might not have had active cancer, but of more significance is his assertion that it didn’t matter whether she had cancer or not.
‘Now at least the public better understand the total package they are buying from Dr Nitschke if they support the alleged right to death on demand.’
Queensland Right to Life (QRTL) president Dr Donna Purcell of Toowoomba said publicity about Mrs Crick’s intention to kill herself clearly illustrated a ‘death mentality’.
Queensland Bioethics Centre director Ray Campbell said the way terminally ill people were being used as pawns in the euthanasia game should be of great concern.
