It is a fact of life that every Australian breaks no law if they commit suicide. Half a century ago, most Australian states did have legislation on their books that made a failed suicide attempt a crime, but few were actually prosecuted. The churches and many religious people are very vocally against the entire concept of " Euthanasia " and they have skillfully cowed the politicians into knocking down any legislation that offers help to those to wish to end their lives.
We have the almost laughable situation that a person who commits suicide is free to do so, but if any other person assists in doing so the courts can throw the book at him or her - and impose a substantial gaol sentence. Now we are splitting hairs to determine the exact definition of that word - " Help " !
Philip Nitschke is the founder of an organization named " Exit International " which seeks a law change to allow those wishing to end their lives to be assisted in their task. Nitschke is a legally registered doctor and he has come under criticism because he made a book available that explains methods of ending life to a forty-five year old Perth man who was apparently in good health, but had his own reasons for terminating further living.
The preferred method of Euthanasia is the drug Nembutal. It allows the person wishing life termination to drift painlessly into a sleep from which they will never awake. It is a banned substance in Australia, but is freely available in Mexico and many other world countries. Heroin and other narcotics are also banned imports, but they are freely available on our streets and there is no doubt that Nembutal slips through our porous customs defences - for those who know where and how to find it.
The anti Euthanasia fanatics are demanding Nitschke be deregistered as a doctor and charged with " assisting " a suicide. It crosses a very fine line when it infers that making information that is freely available in the public domain is interpreted as illegal assistance. The time is fast coming when we need to have a re-think on this whole matter of life - and death. Death is a natural occurrence - and as it can not be made illegal - it needs to be treated with compassion.
We already have passed the half way point with Euthanasia. We have " Hospices " for the terminally ill in which we ease the way out of life for those with diseases such as cancer. We cross a fine line when we use drugs in quantities we know will shorten the existing life span to alleviate the shocking pain the terminally ill are suffering - and we pretend that is not a form of Euthanasia.
If the snooty nosed, Churchy lot have their way, suicide can become a very messy affair. Blowing one's brains out with a shotgun can be distressing for loved ones and friends, and of course some unfortunate person is tasked with cleaning up the mess. Walking in front of a speeding train is another example of life ending that has repercussions. Many a train driver has been forced to give up driving because of the horror witnessed. In so many cases, desperate people have resorted to what amount to " public executions " - like jumping from a high building - that have a profound effect on others.
Polls taken indicate that about eighty percent of the Australian population condone Euthanasia and it has been legalized in several overseas countries. The right to die with dignity - and at a time of our own choosing - is a personal choice enshrined in law. Euthanasia has been winning the battle against a noisy minority who try to impose their personal view.
Freedom to get assistance with this most personal of decisions - is only a matter of time !
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