A CONTROVERSIAL euthanasia campaigner is coming to York to host a seminar discussing ways that people can commit suicide.

Australian campaigner Dr Philip Nitschke, who dropped a plan in 2008 to come to the UK, is now set to carry out a UK tour talking about ways to help the elderly and terminally ill to end their lives. In the past, he has advocated methods including an “exit bag” of gases.

He is due to hold the four-hour public meeting and seminar on November 21 at The Priory Street Centre, but the plan has sparked fierce debate.

York vicar Father Tim Jones, parish priest of St Lawrence and St Hilda, said: “I am disgusted to hear that Dr Philip Nitschke will be pressing his tawdry, seductive hopelessness here in York.

“The pro-euthanasia movement undermines the wonderful vision and work of the hospice movement and the principles of the medical profession who care for us.

“If our culture does embrace euthanasia then we will find the end of life care, especially for the poor, will be restricted to the low cost option of premature death.”

But Joyce Pickard, 90, a founder member of the North Yorkshire branch of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society and a former head teacher of The Mount School, said she supported the visit. She said: “I am certainly pro-choice and very much believe that if someone is terminally ill, or every very old and unable to live a decent quality life, or if someone is has a very serious disease and life has become intolerable that they should have the choice to die.”

She said she hoped Britain would emulate Switzerland, where assisted suicide is legal and said: “I would not want to be a bed blocker in the NHS carrying on and on and on when there is no point. I would like to die with my dignity intact.”

Dr Nitschke, known in his native country as “Dr Death”, was founder of the right-to-die organisation Exit International, and campaigned successfully to have a euthanasia law passed in Australia’s Northern territory in 1996. He helped four patients end their lives before the law was overturned.

Sally Hutchinson, of Age Concern in York, but speaking in a personal capacity, said: “I respect and understand that this solution is appropriate for some people with all the appropriate measures in place.

“However this alarmist kind of action is very worrying and I personally would not wish to be involved in anything this gentleman has to offer.”

The York seminar, given by organisation Exit International, is due to include “practical information for end of life decision making”, including advice on “peaceful hypoxic death” using various gases and other prescription and non-prescription substances.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said they were aware of the seminar, and said: “If it transpires that a suspected criminal offence has been committed, people can be assured that the matter will be investigated.”

Sussex police have already said anyone who “aids, abets, counsels or procures” suicide could face prosecution.

Angela Harrison, chief executive for York Council for Voluntary Service, which runs the Priory Street Centre, said CVS did its best to balance equality and free speech and said events held at the centre did not necessarily reflect the work or views of York CVS.

She said: “York CVS values life and would have concerns if vulnerable people were being exploited or pressurised unduly, but we have received assurances from Exit International that this will not be the case.

“This event will remain within the law and no equipment used for ending life will be present, nor will any films of euthanasia be shown on the premises.”

Dr Nitschke, who also plans to hold workshops in London, Edinburgh, and East Sussex has defended his beliefs, saying in one national newspaper: “Suicide is not a crime; you can do that but you’ve got to know what you’re doing.

“People say that because people are depressed we should never discuss this, because it’s all too dangerous, but a lot of people want to know how to have a way of ending their life.”

• If you experiencing feelings of depression and are contemplating suicide, you can contact the Samaritans on 020 8394 8300.

York Press: The Press - Comment

Right to debate the ‘right to die’

THE idea that anyone should want to end their own life is painful to contemplate.

Yet there are those who believe that, in the right circumstances, people should be able to choose the manner and time of their own death.

Suicide is not illegal in the UK. But helping someone take their life is.

Some want the law changed, so doctors or loved ones faced with an elderly or ill person whose life has become intolerable can help that person bring it to a painless end.

This is a hugely difficult issue. The dangers of going down this route are clear. Pressure could conceivably be put on a sick or elderly person to end their life, because it was convenient. A confused person’s wishes could even be misinterpreted. Yet it doesn’t make sense that desperately ill people determined to end their lives have to travel to Switzerland before they can be helped to do so.

The news that Australian “right-to-die” campaigner Dr Philip Nitschke is to host a suicide seminar in York has sparked anger in some quarters. York vicar Father Tim Jones said he was disgusted that Dr Nitschke would be promoting his “tawdry, seductive hopelessness” here. Others, however, welcomed the seminar.

Ninety-year-old Joyce Pickard said those for whom life had become intolerable “should have the choice to die”.

We would be deeply concerned if Dr Nitschke were to do anything illegal, or that might encourage people to want to take their lives who would otherwise not have thought of doing so.

But provided Dr Nitschke sticks to the law, we see no reason to object. We live in a free society. We should be able to openly discuss even topics as difficult as this one.

York Press: What do you think? - Click to comment