Fed: Euthanasia laws would have stopped suicide - Nitschke
Eds: Restores keyword to DIE from EUTHANASIA
SYDNEY, Dec 16 AAP - An 80-year-old woman with no terminal illness would not have committedsuicide had she had the option of euthanasia, advocate Dr Philip Nitschke said today.
The woman, known only as Ruth, took a lethal overdose of a drug at her Sydney homein the company of friends last week.
Her death prompted opponents of euthanasia to demand police stop the activities ofDr Nitschke, who advocates euthanasia.
Ruth had been planning her death for some time after suffering loss of vision and otherailments, Dr Nitschke said today.
"She was able to end her own life and she did, so I suppose that's suicide," he toldSeven Sunrise.
"She makes the point very clearly though that she would not have probably moved soprematurely had she had the reassurance of knowing there was ability to get help whichwould have been euthanasia had she become more infirm, and of course that option is notavailable."
Dr Nitschke said he had spoken to Ruth on several occasions and she had asked aboutvarious drugs and their consequences.
"I'd seen her on a number of occasions, I suppose all up around about 10 times, I wouldhave visited and talked to her in Sydney whenever we, Exit Australia runs clinics in Sydney,"
he said.
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KEYWORD: DIE LEAD (RESTORES KEYWORD)
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