Looming ban for Nitschke
Defiant euthanasia campaigner Philip Nitschke is likely to be suspended as a doctor within days after the Medical Board said it planned to prevent him practising medicine while investigations continue into claims he poses a risk to public safety.
The move has been welcomed by WA doctors and comes after concerns about his role in helping a depressed Perth man take his own life.
It was revealed this month that the 66-year-old Exit International founder was in contact with 45-year-old Nigel Brayley, who died in May.
The South Australian section of the Medical Board said yesterday it had told Dr Nitschke of its plan to suspend his medical registration.
It would not confirm how long Dr Nitschke had to respond but it is understood he had 48 hours from Wednesday to make a sub- mission.
The board said that taking immediate action was a serious step that could be taken when a doctor's conduct or performance posed a serious risk to people, and to protect public health or safety.
Speaking in Melbourne yesterday, Dr Nitschke claimed the board was acting under pressure from other medical professionals and stemmed from an unbalanced report about Mr Brayley's death on ABC TV.
He said it "falsely depicted" Mr Brayley as a vulnerable patient of his and implied the doctor should have referred him for counselling.
"My relationship with him was certainly not a doctor-patient relationship," Dr Nitschke said.
"He was a person I had scant dealings with. He had obtained lethal drugs before he even talked to me."
But the Australian Medical Association WA, one of the groups which called on health authorities to investigate Dr Nitschke's conduct, said he wanted it both ways.
President Michael Gannon said Dr Nitschke denied any doctor- patient relationship but had widely used the credibility of his medical degree to further his cause.
"He's innocent until proven guilty, but if there's any possible threat to patients, then there is plenty of precedent for the Medical Board to suspend people pending an inquiry, and in this case we support that action," Dr Gannon said.
Though the Medical Board can suspend doctors, it cannot deregister them.
If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, phone Lifeline on 13 11 14
'My relationship with him (Nigel Brayley) was certainly not a doctor-patient relationship.'" *Dr Philip Nitschke *
