SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (The Australian), November 1, 2005:
A group of elderly and terminally ill Australians has made a "peaceful pill" intended to end their lives. It was an act of defiance against the Federal Government's anti-euthanasia laws, which one of them, a 94-year-old Queensland man, described as "stupid".
Twenty people gathered on a deserted New South Wales farm last weekend to make the barbiturate-like substance, similar to the fast-acting drug Nembutal, which was recommended under the Northern Territory's now-defunct voluntary euthanasia legislation.
The right-to-die advocates, aged from 55 to 94, are all members of Exit International, headed by voluntary euthanasia advocate Philip Nitschke.
They all have emphysema or motor neurone disease.
Kay, 55, from Victoria, was the youngest member of the group. She was recently diagnosed with motor neurone disease and chose to take part in the world-first operation after witnessing someone die from a degenerative disease.
"I don't want my husband or kids to look after me or to go into a nursing home," Kay said to The Bulletin magazine.
She also worries about implicating others in her death.
"That is why I am here, so I can do it myself," Kay said.
"I feel reassured by having the chemical and don't feel frightened or scared by it."
"With it, I can concentrate on my quality of life and will go down laughing."
Each member of the 20-strong group was involved, gathering information on how to make the drug from text books and friends with a knowledge of chemistry.
John, from Queensland, said legislation targeting people who encourage suicide on the internet prompted the group to making the deadly drug.
"It's been a rewarding experience and the main message is that the Federal Government can introduce all these draconian measures but they can't stop us," John said to the magazine.
"It's been a monumental feat to get elderly people in a remote location to do something that has probably never been done by aged citizens anywhere.
"The proposed federal laws, which were introduced to Parliament in May, criminalise publishing information on the internet that instructs or promotes suicide.
Under the new laws, this could carry fines of up to $110,000 for an individual.
"I think we are justified in challenging these stupid laws by taking the manufacturing into our own hands," Fred, 94, from Queensland told the magazine. "Let them prosecute if they want to."
As a result of the laws, Exit International's counselling service and website will move to New Zealand, while the group's political arm will remain in Australia.
Three observers from the US witnessed the weekend event, including Ted Goodwin, president of the US right-to-die group Final Exit. He criticised the federal legislation, describing it as an attack on free speech.
Copyright © Global Action on Aging
November 5, 2005
AUSTRALIA: Terminally Ill Make "Suicide Pill"
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (The Australian), November 1, 2005:
A group of elderly and terminally ill Australians has made a "peaceful pill" intended to end their lives. It was an act of defiance against the Federal Government's anti-euthanasia laws, which one of them, a 94-year-old Queensland man, described as "stupid".
Twenty people gathered on a deserted New South Wales farm last weekend to make the barbiturate-like substance, similar to the fast-acting drug Nembutal, which was recommended under the Northern Territory's now-defunct voluntary euthanasia legislation.
The right-to-die advocates, aged from 55 to 94, are all members of Exit International, headed by voluntary euthanasia advocate Philip Nitschke.
They all have emphysema or motor neurone disease.
Kay, 55, from Victoria, was the youngest member of the group. She was recently diagnosed with motor neurone disease and chose to take part in the world-first operation after witnessing someone die from a degenerative disease.
"I don't want my husband or kids to look after me or to go into a nursing home," Kay said to The Bulletin magazine.
She also worries about implicating others in her death.
"That is why I am here, so I can do it myself," Kay said.
"I feel reassured by having the chemical and don't feel frightened or scared by it."
"With it, I can concentrate on my quality of life and will go down laughing."
Each member of the 20-strong group was involved, gathering information on how to make the drug from text books and friends with a knowledge of chemistry.
John, from Queensland, said legislation targeting people who encourage suicide on the internet prompted the group to making the deadly drug.
"It's been a rewarding experience and the main message is that the Federal Government can introduce all these draconian measures but they can't stop us," John said to the magazine.
"It's been a monumental feat to get elderly people in a remote location to do something that has probably never been done by aged citizens anywhere.
"The proposed federal laws, which were introduced to Parliament in May, criminalise publishing information on the internet that instructs or promotes suicide.
Under the new laws, this could carry fines of up to $110,000 for an individual.
"I think we are justified in challenging these stupid laws by taking the manufacturing into our own hands," Fred, 94, from Queensland told the magazine. "Let them prosecute if they want to."
As a result of the laws, Exit International's counselling service and website will move to New Zealand, while the group's political arm will remain in Australia.
Three observers from the US witnessed the weekend event, including Ted Goodwin, president of the US right-to-die group Final Exit. He criticised the federal legislation, describing it as an attack on free speech.
Copyright © Global Action on Aging
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