ASSISTED SUICIDE advocate Dr Philip Nitschke last night urged Irish politicians to show courage and not to fear the wrath of the church when it came to legislating for euthanasia.
The Australian doctor took part in a debate at University College Dublin last night almost a year after his first, controversial public meeting in the Republic.
His group, Exit International, provides information on assisted suicide and campaigns for the right of people to make informed decisions about when and how they will die.
He said the fact of euthanasia being illegal meant people such as spouses who acted out of compassion and love faced major criminal sanctions.
Dr Nitschke is to hold a workshop at social centre Seomra Spraoi in Dublin today to inform people of euthanasia. The event is strictly open to “over 50s of sound mind and the seriously ill”.
People who were informed would be “happier” and “empowered”, and would “probably live longer” because they stop worrying over the issues, he said.
Such people would be able to have the drugs needed for assisted suicide in their homes, so if they ever needed them their spouses would not have to suffer by facing criminal sanctions, he said.
In 1996 he provided injections to four terminally ill patients in Australia during a brief period when assisted suicide was lawful in the Northern Territory. The Rights of the Terminally Ill Act was overturned after nine months.
Independent Senator Rónán Mullen was among those opposing the debate motion “That this House would Legalise Euthanasia” at last night’s meeting of UCD’s Literary and Historical Society. Mr Mullen said he welcomed Dr Nitschke in the same way he would welcome a “holocaust denier” or someone advocating abortion.
Dr Nitschke was presenting himself as a great humanitarian helping people in horrible pain, when so much could be done to provide them with an alternative, he said. It was a “very long time”, he added, since the church had put anyone in fear when these debates were being discussed.
He said if assisted suicide was brought in it would become “order du jour” as it gained traction and people would be made to feel a burden. Assisted suicide did not support the common good but advocated death and bleakness, he added.
The motion was passed.