PERTH, Australia, August 20, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) — A visibly upset young woman publicly confronted Philip Nitschke, creator of the Sarco death pod, and demanded he apologize for his role in influencing her depressed father to commit suicide.
“Apologize! Apologize! You are responsible! The information you put out kills people, people who are not in a rational state of mind to make that decision,” she yelled at Nitschke, as seen in a video by Australia’s 9News.
The man dubbed “Dr. Death” only retorted: “You seem to fit that criteria [sic] yourself right now.”
Chaos has erupted at a pro-euthanasia talk in Floreat. A small crowd was being addressed by Philip Nitschke from Exit International. @Gary_Adshead #9News pic.twitter.com/QowOYkcWaJ
— Nine News Perth (@9NewsPerth) August 13, 2019
Founder of the Australian Exit International, which promotes and sells suicide drugs, devices, information, and books, Nitschke lost his medical license in 2015 over his role in a number of controversial suicide deaths.
The 72-year-old recently invented a death machine that kills people by releasing liquid nitrogen when the victim presses a button. The machine is dubbed “Sarco” because it can double as a coffin or sarcophagus. Exit International put design plans for the death pod online so people can build their own using a 3D printer.
Nitschke confirmed earlier this month he’s watched two people kill themselves via a livestreaming video service he created for that purpose.
Two more individuals have volunteered to let Nitschke observe their deaths via video to aid his research into a cheap and accessible substitute for the euthanasia drug Nembutal, and he hopes more will do likewise, the Daily Mail reported.
Nitschke was at a pro-euthanasia forum in Perth last week when the woman, known only as Candice, denounced him from the back row, reported 9News.
Euthanasia supporters then surrounded and set upon Candice, calling her a “disgrace” and telling her she had “no right to be here.”
However, she refused to leave.
“There are young people who have died, people with depression,” Candice says, as quoted by 9News. “It’s wrong, it’s totally irresponsible, he’s a doctor, it’s wrong.”
Candice then went up to the front of the auditorium and onto the platform where Nitschke was sitting, and demanded he apologize, as euthanasia advocates booed her.
“I don’t know who you are,” Nitschke said.
Candice told reporters later that her father committed suicide two years ago after he got advice from Exit International and obtained a lethal product.
She said her father was suffering from depression but was not terminally ill.
Alex Schadenberg, executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, praised Candice for confronting “Dr. Death.”
“She’s a very courageous person,” he told LifeSiteNews. “Nitschke has been involved with many suicide deaths but few people have the strength and courage to face him and challenge him like Candice.”
Nitschke’s visit in Perth came as Western Australia’s politicians face debate on a Voluntary Euthanasia Law that was tabled in the state parliament August 7.