VIC: Kennett warns euthanasia doctor

AAP General News (Australia)
04-27-1999
VIC: Kennett warns euthanasia doctor

MELBOURNE, April 27 AAP - Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett has again warned euthanasia
campaigner Dr Philip Nitschke his government would not hesitate to move against him if he
broke state laws at his new Melbourne clinic.

From today, Dr Nitschke plans to advise dying patients either at their homes or at a secret
clinic at inner suburban Richmond, which will operate for three days.

He has refused to reveal the clinic's location, saying neither he nor his patients wanted
trouble.

Mr Kennett said Dr Nitschke would be closely scrutinised to make sure he did not overstep
the line.

"I think Dr Nitschke runs some very real risks in terms of what he's doing at the moment
and he's going to be very very carefully monitored," Mr Kennett told a business breakfast.

"It is one thing to provide people advice, it is another thing to provide advice that is
opposed or in contravention of the law, and if he is in contravention of the law in anything
that he does then the full weight of the law will be brought down upon him."

Federal Health Minister Dr Michael Wooldridge yesterday said he was powerless to stop the
clinic going ahead, as it was a matter for state medical boards.

"I don't think it is appropriate that doctors help to kill their patients, but whether it
is legal or not is a matter for the state where he is setting up his practice," he said.

Dr Nitschke, who does not charge patients and funds his clinics from donations, said he had
been notified by the Medical Practitioners Board in both Victoria and South Australia of
complaints over his clinics.

He had sought and been granted more time to respond.

He said he would see two-thirds of his Victorian patients in their homes and the rest at
the Richmond clinic.

Dr Nitschke said that because other doctors were unwilling to give patients straight
answers on euthanasia, there were already temporary clinics in Sydney and Brisbane, and eight
more were planned in capital cities over the next few months.

"It is a damning indictment of our society that we cannot speak openly and honestly," he
told AAP yesterday.

"Doctors are understandably worried, anxious and frightened about answering the questions
and provide elliptical, tangential answers and the patients end up more confused."

AAP kmh/mh/bm/de

KEYWORD: DIE VIC SECOND DAYLEAD

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