Australian physician proposes euthanasia boat

SYDNEY, Australia -- An Australian physician is planning to moor a ship outside the country's territorial waters for use as a base to help terminally ill people die.

Philip Nitschke is investigating the possibility of using a Netherlands-registered vessel to perform euthanasia.

As the boat will be moored in international waters, Nitschke is hoping it will be subject to Dutch laws. The Netherlands' parliament legalized voluntary euthanasia on Tuesday.

"We're looking at how the Dutch legal situation, the change in law in the Dutch parliament, how that impacts on the international law of the sea," he said.

"Whether it changes the situation regarding the international law affecting ships at sea we're not so sure. We'll be commissioning a legal opinion on that as fast as possible," he said.

Boat offers options

Nitschke also believes that if his euthanasia boat does not materialize, Australians seeking euthanasia will travel to Holland to make use of the law.

"I do know that because I run clinics in all states [of Australia] and there are people who have already indicated they will take advantage of the law," he said.

"We do know that people will go to immense lengths to use such services," he said.

Nitschke earned the nickname "Dr. Death" in 1996, when he performed euthanasia on four terminally ill patients.

Australia's Northern Territory state had briefly legalized the practice in 1996, but went back on its decision after immense public pressure.

He now operates clinics across the country which advise terminally-ill patients on how to commit suicide.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Dutch legalize euthanasia
April 11, 2001

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