I suppose it is no longer a secret, but I’ve been told that Dr Philip Nitschke and Dr Fiona Stewart have married in a quiet ceremony  in LA a week or so ago.  I wish them a long and happy life together.  I smiled with the knowledge wondering whether she’ll retain her ‘easy’ name of Stewart so she doesn’t spend the rest of her life spelling Nitschke.  Philip already has that drama.

This weeks Public Meeting and then the closed Workshop was the most comprehensive I can remember in some years.  The Workshop was open only to Members, and many were required to become Members on the spot to enable them to stay on.  Also we signed a disclaimer that we would not use any of the information provided to us, which seemed entirely sensible under current legislation.  The law is an ASS!

Dr Nitschke told us with dry humour that he’d had trouble in some parts of the world finding a venue to speak at.   I was quite shocked to learn that in 300 years of debating, Oxford University withdrew its invitation to Philip because other speakers black balled him.   Irving, the Holocaust denier was the only other person booted out in the debating team in Oxford University’s history.  Gawd, what an insult to Dr Philip Nitschke

What the standing room only crowd indicated to me was the growing sense of awareness that people should not and could not rely on their doctor necessarily from the ultimate relief of pain.

Dr Nitschke went through the requirements under the Law of suicide and that we must not assist people to die unless we’re prepared in Victoria to go to jail for perhaps 10 or 12 years.   He wanted members to be very clear about the ramifications of breaking the law.   He advised us that it is very sensible to have your end of life choices clearly stated in places readily seen……The moral was to Plan Now while still physically and mentally capable.   Do not beg someone to ‘help you die’ and then leave a minefield of legal disasters for those you leave behind.

I couldn’t say that I believed Dr Nitschke was happy and relaxed because my impression of him was the opposite.   I felt that ‘everyone’ wanted a piece of him and he had so very little time to rest us during a four hour session including an end of year get together.   The food was plentiful and provided by Exit members themselves.

Lindy Boyd was run off her feet but remained her happy, cheerful self almost to the end, until the impatience of members wanting ‘instant’ answers became a little overwhelming….Although we were all over 55, the rudeness of some members was embarrassing to me.   As Lindy said, some members had travelled hundred of klm from country towns to attend the Workshop and had a right to ask their questions and be listened to with respect.

Philip answers dozens of questions including one about organ donations.  Apparently the organs of a person known to have committed suicide will not be harvested for transplant.   (I believe there is no medical reason for this, but perhaps it has to do with the feelings of those receiving their gift of life, learning of the suicide.)

It was explained that simply placing a plastic bag over one’s head is a terrible way to die and that some medications also left the body in a mess.   To some extent the information provided was about suicide prevention, which is always a good thing when you’re not sure what you’re doing.

I had a little chuckle as occasionally someone would say “what’s your name, the face seems to be familiar’ and knowing how hopeless I am with names I didn’t think that would help them a great deal…Obviously it was the documentary “Do Not Resuscitate” they were trying to remember.

I was so glad I hadn’t Judy Bayliss along at the Meeting as it was quite a full day and parking was difficult.  I couldn’t imagine me pushing Judy’s wheelchair up the slopes of Malvern and the car was parked a distance away from the venue.  I would have needed a chair myself!