Scottish Catholic Observer

A controversial advocate of euthanasia gave a workshop in Edinburgh on Saturday, giving advice on how the elderly and ill adults can end their lives ‘peacefully,’ in spite of concerns being raised by the Catholic Church and Christian groups.

Dr Philip Nitschke, from Australia, shared his controversial advice with an audience in Edinburgh as part of his UK tour instructing people on the ways in which they can end their lives in a ‘peaceful and reliable way.’

He told the audience of around 30 people gathered at St Mark’s Unitarian Church that: “It’s wise for every elderly or ill adult to learn how they could peacefully and reliably end their lives at the time of their choosing.”

Before the event, the Catholic Church had asked police to investigate whether Dr Nitschke (above) was breaking the law, which bans assisted suicide, and there were calls for the event to be cancelled.

Before the event took place Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, said: “In the context of such a dismal economic climate, Dr Nitschke’s message is a great danger to vulnerable people who may feel pressured into taking their own lives.”

An initial hour-long talk at the event was open to anyone free of charge. However, people staying for the ‘practical’ workshop element had to be aged over 50, pay £40 and sign a disclaimer form.

The workshop looked in detail at methods that could be used by someone wishing to end their own life.

Dr Nitschke, nicknamed ‘Dr Death,’ is the founder and director of the euthanasia campaign group Exit International, acknowledged that the workshop had to ‘sail quite close to the wind’ and said it had never been tested in a court of law.

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