CANBERRA, Australia, October 27, 2015 (LifeSiteNews) – Politicians, family, and disability groups have joined anti-euthanasia group HOPE's call for an inquiry in to the operations of pro-euthanasia group Exit International and Dr, Philip Nitschke. Nitschke has agreed to a series of conditions on his medical licence that forbid his euthanasia advocacy activities.
Craig Wallace from disability rights advocacy network Lives Worth Living has welcomed the heavy restrictions placed on Dr. Nitschke and joined the call for a federal parliamentary inquiry. He says that all Australians need to be protected from coercion to commit suicide, especially people with disabilities. The disability sector is particularly sensitive to any push for legalized euthanasia, as its members have historically been targeted.
“Despite the decision, the threat is not over. The restrictions placed on Dr. Nitschke raise real questions about the role and work of Exit International in coaching people towards suicide through online forums as evidence in the tragic events reported last year,” Mr. Wallace said.
“Doctors and others must listen carefully to the concerns of people with disabilities, who often face uncertainty and barriers in our lives. Encouraging suicide is not the answer. Better support is,” he added.
Australian Christian Lobby director Lyle Shelton has joined HOPE's call for an inquiry. Shelton congratulated the medical board but called for more to be done. “AHPRA are making it clear by this decision that assisting patients to commit suicide is an abuse of the role of a medical practitioner and must therefore be prevented,” Shelton said. “But there are more advocates in the suicide advocacy industry that preys on vulnerable lives. If it's not appropriate for Dr. Nitschke, then it is not appropriate for the other advocates.”
Shelton noted that in addition to the sufferers of mental illness who have obtained Nembutal to commit suicide, “the examples of Belgium and the Netherlands should stand as a constant reminder to us all that euthanasia cannot be made safe for the vulnerable in our communities.”
Speaking for FamilyVoice Australia, Ros Phillips raised the issue of Exit continuing through workshops run by people Nitschke trained. She said, “The new restrictions on Dr. Philip Nitschke's medical licence are a step in the right direction, but they do not go far enough. This man has [suicide victims'] blood on his hands. It is hard to see how any medical board could allow him to continue to practice medicine, even conditionally.” She called for the medical board to send a stronger message to doctors who wish to advocate for euthanasia.
Victorian member of the Legislative Council Dr. Rachel Carling-Jenkins welcomed the decision by the medical board and regards the activities of Nitschke and Exit as merely the tip of the iceberg. She spoke of the “dark world of suicide advocacy” that vulnerable Australians have fallen victim to.
“It is great to see the Medical Board doing their job in protecting the public and managing risk to patients,” Dr. Carling-Jenkins said. “Now parliamentarians must do their part to protect vulnerable people – in this case suicidal people who gain access to methods of suicide from groups like Exit International.”
Carling-Jenkins gained her Ph.D. in social science and has worked extensively in the disability sector. She is also the author of the book Disability and Social Movements.
Fellow Victorian MP Bernie Finn told LifeSiteNews that he intends to raise the matter in parliament in two weeks' time, when the next sitting week is held. He will be asking the Victorian government to “co-operate fully with any federal inquiry.”
LifeSiteNews understands that there are other members of Australian parliaments who are preparing to announce their support for an inquiry.
