X-Message-Number: 7546
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 06:26:58 -0700
From: David Brandt-Erichsen <>
Subject: 3rd Euthanasia in Australia

Media Release
THIRD PERSON USES NT 'RIGHTS OF THE TERMINALLY ILL' ACT

A 69 year old male Territorian suffering from terminal stomach cancer became
the third person to use the NT 'Rights of the Terminally Ill' Act on Monday,
January 20th.  The patient died from a machine-delivered lethal injection,
in the presence of his doctor.  The patient thanked those who made it
possible for him to use the Act, in particular his doctor Philip Nitschke,
and the Northern Territory specialist who had reviewed his condition and
cosigned the request form.  No personal details about the patient will be
released.


THIRD EUTHANASIA DEATH IN NT
Dated: Wednesday 22 January, 1997 (12:44pm AEDT)
ABC NEWS (Australian Broadcasting Corp)

A spokesman for the Coalition of Organisations for Voluntary Euthanasia,
Doctor Robert Marr, says the Northern Territory's law legalising euthanasia
is working smoothly.  This follows the third legally assisted suicide in the
Northern Territory which took place early this week.  Dr Marr says a
69-year-old Northern Territory man used a computerised injection system to
end his own life on Monday.  He says the specialist required to authorise
the killing was happy to do so, and more doctors are coming out in support
of the law.  Dr Marr says he expects about one person a month will take
advantage of
the law.


PERRON SAYS EUTHANASIA NOW A SMOOTHER PROCESS
Issued: Wednesday 22 January, 1997 (1:24pm AEDT)
ABC NEWS (Australian Broadcasting Corp)

The former Northern Territory Chief Minister, Marshall Perron, says the
Territory's latest voluntary euthanasia death shows that the legal process
is now smooth.  On Monday a 69-year-old man suffering terminal stomach
cancer, became the third person to die under the Northern Territory Act.  Mr
Perron, who drafted the law, says it was only a matter of time before the
legal process settled down after the highly publicised first and second
euthanasia deaths.  The Territory resident who died using a computerised
injection system, expressed a wish for the Senate not to override the law.
The Senate will debate the Kevin Andrews Anti-voluntary Euthanasia Bill
later this year.


Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=7546