PHILIP Nitschke has taken another dangerous step along the road towards euthanasia on demand. This time, he has supported the suicide of an able-bodied man suffering from depression.
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To thumb his nose further at any responsibility as a doctor to succour life, he maintained that he was under no obligation to advise the 45-year-old to seek help.
As beyondblue chairman Jeff Kennett says in a letter to the editor in Monday's Mail-Times, Nitschke grossly breached the Hippocratic Oath and should no longer be registered to practise as a medical professional.
The Hippocratic Oath is one of the oldest binding documents in history. Written by Hippocrates, it is still held sacred by physicians: to treat the ill to the best of one's ability, to preserve a patient's privacy, to teach the secrets of medicine to the next generation, and so on.
An English translation of some of the oath is worth recording:
"I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.
"I will give no deadly medicine to anyone if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion. But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.
"In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or men, be they free or slaves.''
As soon as a doctor, nurse or anyone else ignores the entreaty to preserve life and 'never do harm to anyone', they step over the line onto the slippery slope of playing God. Who will be Nitschke's next target for euthanasia, or suicide, or his Peaceful Pill?
We shudder at the prospect, especially in light of the Wimmera's serious rates of stress, depression and suicide an unhealthy mix that experts warn is likely to worsen as brutal Federal Budget measures kick in.
Wimmera Uniting Care is already struggling to cope with demand for its counselling service, and fears a snowballing crisis.
People in need need our help. Nothing else.
Keith Lockwood, chief sub-editor
If a person’s life is in immediate danger, call 000.
To speak to Lifeline’s 24-hour crisis line, call 13 11 14.
If you are aged between five and 25, the Kids Helpline is 1800 551 800.
Referrals and information are available from SANE Australia’s helpline 1800 18 SANE, 7263, which operates from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
Beyondblue’s 24-hour support line is available by calling 1300 224 636.
