'Dr Death' Philip Nitschke creates a LIVESTREAM service so people can kill themselves while video calling him - and two Australians have already used it
Philip 'Dr Death' Nitschke has created a private live-streaming service so he can watch in real-time as members of his euthanasia group end their lives.
The Australian doctor and founder of Exit International wants to be sure that a cheap and readily available substance, that's fast emerging as a new choice for elected deaths, actually delivers a peaceful ending.
Dr Nitschke says two Australians, both from Brisbane, used the substance to die in May.
Both chose to privately stream their deaths to him, so he could see if it did, indeed, provide a good and timely death.
Dr Nitschke says two other Australians have promised to do the same, and he hopes there'll be others who follow suit.
The former GP says a lot is known about how the predominant euthanasia drug Nembutal works.
But the same can't be said of the new substance which is a fraction of the cost, and unlike Nembutal, can be readily and legally obtained.
'This is all very new,' Dr Nitschke said.
'Some people who have been planning to take this step have been very generous. They do not mind having their deaths observed because they are aware that we are very keen to get good information.'
He said initial experiences with the substance indicate it could be a promising alternative to Nembutal, which users must illegally import from overseas.
'These substances are available and they are legal, you don't need to be approved, and you don't need a prescription. You are not doing anything illegal to obtain it.'
Dr Nitschke unveiled his 3D-printed 'suicide pod' last week that he said will enable people to die peacefully and easily as they sit in the device and fade away.
Also known as the, Sarco Pod, the device injects liquid nitrogen to limit the amount of oxygen allowing the person to pass.
Suicide is not recognised as a criminal offence in any Australian state or territory.
A person will also have to pass an online mental fitness test before being given an access code that will make the machine function.
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Philip 'Dr Death' Nitschke has created a private live-streaming service so he can watch in real-time as members of his euthanasia group end their lives.
The Australian doctor and founder of Exit International wants to be sure that a cheap and readily available substance, that's fast emerging as a new choice for elected deaths, actually delivers a peaceful ending.
Dr Nitschke says two Australians, both from Brisbane, used the substance to die in May.
Both chose to privately stream their deaths to him, so he could see if it did, indeed, provide a good and timely death.
Dr Nitschke says two other Australians have promised to do the same, and he hopes there'll be others who follow suit.
The former GP says a lot is known about how the predominant euthanasia drug Nembutal works.
But the same can't be said of the new substance which is a fraction of the cost, and unlike Nembutal, can be readily and legally obtained.
'This is all very new,' Dr Nitschke said.
'Some people who have been planning to take this step have been very generous. They do not mind having their deaths observed because they are aware that we are very keen to get good information.'
He said initial experiences with the substance indicate it could be a promising alternative to Nembutal, which users must illegally import from overseas.
'These substances are available and they are legal, you don't need to be approved, and you don't need a prescription. You are not doing anything illegal to obtain it.'
Dr Nitschke unveiled his 3D-printed 'suicide pod' last week that he said will enable people to die peacefully and easily as they sit in the device and fade away.
Also known as the, Sarco Pod, the device injects liquid nitrogen to limit the amount of oxygen allowing the person to pass.
Suicide is not recognised as a criminal offence in any Australian state or territory.
A person will also have to pass an online mental fitness test before being given an access code that will make the machine function.
Dr Death Philip Nitschke creates a suicide livestream service
The Australian doctor wants to be sure that a cheap and readily available substance, that's fast emerging as a new choice for elected deaths, actually delivers a peaceful ending.
