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 photo_right_blank.gif (1614 bytes)  Opinion Pieces

Legislation victory in fight for life

The Courier Mail
By Kath Woolf
11 January 2006

Kath Woolf sees new laws against online suicide talk as a blessing for all

From this week, Australians are a little bit safer. They're safer from suicide spruikers who are happy to sell their one-off solution to anyone.

That's because last week the Federal Government's new Criminal Code Amendment (Suicide Related Material Offences) Act came into force. It's legislation that stops the use of the Internet, e-mail or telephones to counsel, promote or incite suicide.

Suicide is still a problem in Australia, with more than 2000 victims every year. That's more than the road toll. Yet some people and organisations still spend their time promoting suicide.

There's a genuine concern for governments here. After all, they spend millions of dollars each year trying to prevent suicide. Studies have shown that depression is a big factor in suicides. The World Health Organisation says "depression plays a major role in suicide and is thought to be involved in about 65-90 per cent of all suicides with psychiatric pathologies".

A study published in the Annals of Family Medicine shows depression can have a bigger impact on elderly patients than chronic medical illness.

A medical illness that may be quite manageable can seem much worse when combined with depression which "often goes unrecognised or receives suboptimal treatment in primary care".

Yet, despite the need to diagnose depression in many cases, Australia's most prominent right-to-die advocate, Dr Philip Nitschke, refuses to ask for expert help from psychiatrists to rule it out.

Australian experience says that's not good enough. An article published in the medical journal, The Lancet, looked at the seven people who sought euthanasia in the Northern Territory under their laws in 1996. It said "four of the seven cases had symptoms of depression, including reduced reactivity, lowered mood, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts".

Nitschke's latest take is teaching people how to whip up a suicide drink – that provides no treatment or care. He has a history of presenting methods such as poisonous gas and lethal injections as solutions for those in need of care and support, not despair and death.

At the US launch of his carbon monoxide suicide machine, Nitschke sold his message with evangelistic fervour.

Do-it-yourself suicide has become a new cult movement. But this DIY approach reinforces social isolation. The carbon monoxide machine must be used alone to avoid risk to bystanders.

Death is all such groups have to offer. The cause of physical, mental or spiritual hurting will not be addressed. The difficult question of how to help suicidal people avoid a self-destructive course will be left unanswered.

This is where a civilised, compassionate society should step in. The states and territories should enforce laws which make it an offence to counsel or procure another person to commit suicide.

It's too late to protect the victim once they have taken their life.

While Nitschke presents suicide options which emphasise individuality and isolation, we should instead emphasise community support and solidarity with those who are suffering.

There are no easy solutions to address the difficulties facing suicidal people. That's probably why a simple suicide potion can be so attractive.

But there are solutions if we are willing to look for them. No one ever improved their quality of life by committing suicide. But by addressing people's very real concerns, fears and pain, we can save lives.

A compassionate approach does not involve playing on their fears of a painful death. It does involve a careful explanation of the many and very good services available to help people in times of difficulty.

People suffering from depression should have their depression treated, to improve their quality of life.

People suffering from pain, discomfort, fear of dying or any of a range of other conditions can seek excellent treatment from palliative care experts.

No one should be left to die because they have a fear of living. And no one should be left to the influence of right-to-die advocates like Nitschke. Thank goodness that there are new federal laws that help to curb their activities.

Kath Woolf is a spokeswoman for the Australian Federation of Right to Life Associations