Philip Nitschke Australian humanitarian, author, euthanasia advocate and comedian Date of Birth: 08.08.1947 Country: Australia

1. Philip Nitschke: The Father of Assisted Dying
2. Early Life and Education
3. Euthanasia Advocacy
4. Development of End-of-Life Technologies
5. Max Dog Brewing Investigation and 'Sarco'
6. Comedy Career

Philip Nitschke: The Father of Assisted Dying

Australian humanist, author, euthanasia advocate, and comedian Philip Nitschke, also known as "Dr. Death" and "Elon Musk of Assisted Suicide," was the first physician in the world to provide legally sanctioned self-administered voluntary lethal injection.

Early Life and Education

Born on August 8, 1947, in rural South Australia, Philip Haig Nitschke earned a degree in physics from the University of Adelaide and a PhD in laser physics from Flinders University in 1972. Leaving scientific research, Nitschke moved to the Northern Territory to advocate for Aboriginal land rights.

After a serious ankle injury, Nitschke, who had a longstanding interest in medicine, including treating his own hypochondria, enrolled in Sydney University's medical school, graduating in 1989.

Euthanasia Advocacy

Nitschke played a pivotal role in legalizing euthanasia in the Northern Territory in 1995, facilitating the deaths of four terminally ill patients using his "Deliverance Machine," which administered a fatal injection. The first patient was 66-year-old Bob Dent, who had suffered from prostate cancer for five years, enduring excruciating pain. Desiring a peaceful end to his suffering, Dent invited Nitschke to his home, reassuring the nervous "Dr. Death," watching a football match, and signaling to begin. Nitschke inserted the machine's needle into Dent's vein, activated a laptop, and stepped away. The screen displayed instructions on screen, requiring Dent's confirmation that he understood the procedure. Silently pressing buttons, Dent read a final warning stating that a fatal injection would be administered in 15 seconds and again pressed "yes." The Deliverance Machine activated, releasing medication, and Dent passed away within minutes.

The euthanasia law was overturned by the Australian federal parliament in 1997. In response, Nitschke founded Exit International, advocating for an individual's right to die.

Development of End-of-Life Technologies

In December 2008, Nitschke released details of a new euthanasia machine, which he described as "foolproof" and "undetectable," utilizing common household items such as a barbecue gas canister filled with nitrogen. Nitschke devised a process that allowed patients to lose consciousness instantly and die within minutes. "So it's very fast," he said. "And it doesn't require any drugs. And critically, it's failsafe. It's reliable, painless, accessible, and very difficult to detect."

Nitschke introduced a "Nembutal Test Kit" in 2009, initially in the United Kingdom and later in Australia. This kit was Exit International's response to the growing demand for Nembutal, which terminally ill patients were traveling to Mexico to obtain, as it was legally available over the counter. "People want to be reassured that they are getting the right concentration," Nitschke said. The kit contained chemicals that changed color when mixed with Nembutal. Detained for an hour for questioning after arriving at Auckland International Airport in New Zealand, Nitschke openly discussed his new invention at public meetings.

In October 2009, the euthanasia advocate announced plans to release information about laboratory facilities where sodium pentobarbital, also known as Nembutal, could be acquired. It can be stored for up to 50 years without losing its potency. Liquid forms of Nembutal degrade after several years, while the solid form, a white, crystalline powder, does not. Nitschke intended to guide people on how to create a liquid "suicide pill" they could ingest whenever they needed a painless way out.

In 2012, Nitschke launched Max Dog Brewing, a brewery, to import nitrous oxide canisters. He explained that the gas canisters could be used both for brewing beer and for ending a life in a "painless, reliable, and perfectly legal way." "Nitrogen can't even be detected at autopsy, which is important to some people," said Nitschke.

Australian anti-euthanasia campaigners appealed to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency to investigate Max Dog Brewing. The investigation did not lead to any charges.

After a workshop on Nitschke's nitrous oxide gas product in 2013, the Western Australian chairman of the Australian Medical Association, Richard Choong, said he "deplored" the product, despite its technical legality. Choong argued that any device designed to assist in suicide could be misused for criminal purposes.

Nitschke countered that elderly people seeking to end their lives but lacking knowledge of nitrogen were resorting to hanging, which he considered a "bloody disgrace" for society.

Max Dog Brewing Investigation and 'Sarco'

In 2014, Australians Valerie Siegert and Claire Parsons used equipment from Max Dog Brewing to end their lives. Police launched a two-and-a-half-year investigation that resulted in no charges being laid against Nitschke.

Proposing "euphoric death," Nitschke designed 3D-printed "suicide capsules," called "Sarcos" (short for "sarcophagus") in 2017. The capsule consists of a removable coffin placed on a stand into which liquid nitrogen is poured. Inside the coffin, a touchscreen prompts for an activation code, followed by a confirmation of the decision to die. After confirmation, nitrogen is released into the capsule, displacing oxygen, leading to a quick and painless death. Nitschke aimed to release the software for making the Sarco publically available by 2019.

Comedy Career

In parallel with his development of humane methods of euthanasia and counseling people seeking to end their lives, Philip Nitschke embarked on a career as a comedian. In August 2015, he performed "Dancing with Dr. Death" at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The Three Weeks Edinburgh magazine described the show as "both entertaining and thought-provoking."

Nitschke staged an Australian version of his show, retitled "Unlicensed Practice" (reflecting his loss of medical registration on July 23, 2014), at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in April 2016. A repeat performance took place in Darwin in August 2016. The Herald Sun praised his performance, saying that Nitschke "makes a compelling case, delivered with warmth, wit, and intelligence that even forgives his fondness for puns."