Jules Hunter's death to highlight tragedy of euthanasia laws
PROMINENT euthanasia advocate, Dr Philip Nitschke, will present a public meeting and workshop on the subject in Jules Hunter's honour this week.
Her death will be used as an example of why the current laws should be changed.
When Jules turned to Exit International for help, it could do nothing but provide her with reading material. Anything more would have been illegal.
It's a scenario Dr Nitschke and the head of Exit International, Dr Fiona Stewart, see almost every day and are fighting to have changed.
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Dr Stewart described the trauma of Jule's death as "tragic" and an indication of the cruelty of the current legal situation.
"Because MS is not a terminal illness, Jules would not have qualified to use a voluntary euthanasia law," she said.
"The only solution is to decriminalise assisted suicide, like it is in Switzerland.
"This way Jules would have been able to die at home with her family by her side."
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Dr Nitschke's public meeting and workshop will be held at the Bicentennial Centre at Sunshine Beach at 1pm this Friday.
He will teach participants the importance of learning how to end their life and putting an end-of-life plan in place, should they be diagnosed with a serious illness.
The meeting is free and open to all but attendance at the workshop is restricted to people over 50 and "of sound mind".
*Do you have thoughts of suicide or self harm? Phone Lifeline on 13 11 14.
