Voluntary euthanasia advocate Dr Philip Nitschke has turned his fury on the Australian Medical Board after being suspended from practice while his possible role in the death of a Perth man is investigated by the Australian Medical Board.
"Regardless of what I said, it seems the board was seeking to carry out their dirty little midnight assassination aimed at silencing me and stifling discussion on this important social topic,” Dr Nitschke said today.
Earlier this year Dr Nitschke was approached by 45-year-old Perth man, Nigel Brayley.
At the time, South Australian Police were investigating the death of Mr Brayley's former wife.
Mr Brayley later took his own life using the illegally imported euthanasia drug, Nembutal.
Dr Nitschke said he only met Mr Brayley in passing at an event of the pro-euthanasia group, Exit International.
"Nigel Brayley was a lucid adult of sound mind and he was not my patient. He had sought to acquire his drugs even before I met him,” he said.
“There was nothing I could or did say to Nigel that would have made him change his mind."
Although Mr Brayley was never charged, Dr Nitschke argued otherwise in his defence - claiming one of his previous partners had also died.
"The Medical Board's attempt to pin their decision on my brief involvement with serial wife killer Nigel Brayley lacks any evidential basis,” Dr Nitschke said..
“And to suggest my passing acquaintance with Mr Bayley implies a doctor-patient relationship and an implied duty of care, makes mockery of good medical practice."
Dr Nitschke's registration has been suspended, an interim step to ensure public safety while an exhaustive inquiry into his conduct occurs.
It could lead to restrictions on what he can practise or in the most serious case, de-registration.
Jeff Kennett is the Chairman of depression support group, Beyond Blue.
"Philip Nitschke is now trying to run a case that says anyone is entitled to end their life whenever they like, that that's a human right,” Mr Kennett said.
“I have always been a supporter of euthanasia for the terminally-ill under very tight guidelines. But Beyond Blue, your government, all governments are working very, very hard to try and reduce our suicide rates."
Anti-euthanasia advocate Paul Russell, from Hope: No Euthanasia, has rejected the notion of rational suicide.
"We do need a national investigation into the operation of these kinds of organisations such as Exit International, as a starting point to uncover what effectively has been a clandestine death industry that's been operating not just in Australia but around the world,” he said.
But Dr Nitschke said he won't be deterred.
“Though I'm disappointed in the board's decision, it will have very little impact on my work as a director of Exit International. In fact, in the past month, there's been unprecedented interest in the work of Exit International,” he said..
The full inquiry could take several months; Mr Nitschke has indicated he will appeal.
Anyone needing support can call Lifeline on 13 11 14
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