November 13, 2014
Nitschke trial has ‘valuable purpose’
Voluntary euthanasia campaigner Dr Philip Nitschke is glad the issue of ‘rational suicide’ is being publicly debated, despite one case leading to his suspension.
After a three-day hearing, the Northern Territory Health Professional Review Tribunal reserved its decision on his appeal against his suspension by the Medical Board of Australia.
Dr Nitschke is yet to face another hearing, after the board announced on Monday it had referred 12 counts of alleged professional misconduct to the tribunal.
In July, the board used its emergency powers to immediately suspend Dr Nitschke, after ruling he posed ‘a serious risk to the health and safety of the public’.
The ruling followed the suicide of Perth man Nigel Brayley, 45, who died in May after communicating with Dr Nitschke and attending an Exit International workshop in Perth in February.
The suspension prevents him from practising anywhere in Australia and is an interim measure pending the outcome of a board inquiry.
Dr Nitschke said the medical board told him his view that people have a right to choose to take their own life was incompatible with his responsibility as a doctor.
On Thursday, he told AAP Mr Brayley’s case had allowed the issue of rational suicide to broaden the public debate about matters relating to end-of-life choices.
While the publicity and the follow-up on his suspension served ‘a very valuable purpose’, Dr Nitschke said a lot of damage had been done to him and his supporters in terms of stress, strain and cost.
In those terms, it would have been better for him if he had never met Mr Brayley and he would have had a more peaceful and comfortable life this year, he said.
Referring to the 12 new complaints, Dr Nitschke said it appeared the board was saying ‘if we don’t get you on this (the suspension), we will get you on these’.
‘They have gone out digging up the bodies and looking through the entrails of past deaths,’ he said.