Family blames Dr Nitschke’s book for woman’s death

Euthanasia campaigner Dr Philip Nitschke. (AAP: Dean Lewins, file photo)

A Perth woman is calling on the federal Attorney General to ban a book written by euthanasia campaigner Philip Nitschke.

Sally Doyle’s sister, Erin Berg, who was not terminally ill, became suicidal after the breakdown of her marriage and the birth of her fourth child.

Ms Doyle says her sister borrowed one of Mr Nitschke’s books from a public library and travelled to Mexico to purchase a drug restricted from sale within Australia. She died ten days later.

Ms Doyle says she wants the book withdrawn from sale in Australia.

“Our concern is that there actually is a significant amount of specific suicide information peppered throughout the book,” she said.

“Included in the book is information identifying and repeatedly identifying what Nitschke terms the best drug with which to suicide.”

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/12/2301934.htm

Ms Doyle says WA’s ‘profoundly dysfunctional’ mental health system also contributed to her sister’s death,

Doctor Nitschke says while he has enormous sympathy for the family, it is wrong to blame his book for the death.

He says the book doesn’t provide enough information to inform people how to end their lives.

Doctor Nitschke also says Ms Berg was turned away from his organisation Exit International because it was clear she was not terminally ill and was facing significant mental health issues.

A spokeswoman for WA’s Health Minister Jim McGinty says that due to patient confidentiality the minister is unable to comment publicly on the case.

Mr McGinty is expected to meet with the family in August.