X-Message-Number: 6436 Date: Wed, 03 Jul 1996 17:25:59 -0700 From: David Brandt-Erichsen <> Subject: Australia update The full bench of the Northern Territory Supreme Court finished hearing the defense case on Tuesday afternoon July 2, and has announced that they would issue their judgement "shortly," perhaps by the end of the week or early next week. Most observers believe the judgement will be in favour of the Act, apparently including Dr. Wake (who was bringing the action against the Act). The condition of terminal patient Max Bell is deteriorating rapidly and he may not live long enough to take advantage of the law if it is upheld. Max had journeyed by car across 3,000 kilometers of isolated Australian outback, while in an advanced state of cancer, to reach the Northern Territory. Meanwhile, the other physician specialists, one of whom would need to sign the certificate confirming Max's diagnosis as terminal, are holding off on commiting themselves until the court outcome is known. Dr. Nitschke is having difficulty getting a local psychiatrist for the other needed signature and is considering flying in someone from another state (there is no residency requirement on the psychiatrist). The only privately practicing psychiatrist in Darwin is prepared to do assessments under the Act, but has had legal advice that even the psychiatrist could get caught up in legal tangles if the law is found to be invalid, and is waiting for the court outcome as well. A special thanks to Lynda Cracknell for this information, which has not been reported on any of the wire services. <David Brandt-Erichsen> Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=6436