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