Euthanasia campaigner angers Medical Council

Dr Philip Nitschke

The New Zealand Medical Council has ruled that Philip Nitschke - known as "Dr Death" - has been practising medicine at his euthanasia workshops and therefore needs to be registered.

The Australian doctor, who advocates voluntary euthanasia, held workshops in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland last month which included advice on manufacturing his "peaceful pill", a deadly barbiturate-based chemical cocktail.

Participants were advised to collaborate to make the pills, so police would find it hard to prosecute.

"At the time that Dr Nitschke presented his workshops, and despite having been made well aware of the council's requirements, he was not registered and did not hold an annual practising certificate [APC]," said council chairman John Campbell.

The matter has been referred to the Ministry of Health to consider what, if any, further action is needed. It was possible Dr Nitschke could be prosecuted because offering any suicide assistance was illegal, he said.

But police had earlier said prosecution was difficult, especially without knowing the ingredients of the pills.

Dr Nitschke gained a high profile for his association with Wanganui euthanasia campaigner Lesley Martin, who was convicted of attempting to murder her mother.

- NZPA