A Brush with Death

Why, Dr Nitschke? Is that a soon-to-be murderous gas cannister in your hand, or are you just pleased to see me?

Everybody! I met Dr Death! Not only did I meet him, but I told him to his face that what he was doing was irresponsible, in selling kits to test the strength of banned drugs brought into the country illegally from Mexico, in order for people to kill themselves. He claimed that his stance on suicide was 'neutral'. I told him that the kits were hardly going to be used in order not to commit suicide. He denied he was 'promoting' suicide, even though seemingly every waking moment he has, he is thinking of new ways people can top themselves. I somehow managed to gain access to the meeting even though it was advertised on the radio as being for over 50's only. I was asked no question on entry nor was I asked in the meeting to leave because I was too young. There were other 30-somethings there too. What a gigantic fibber he is!

After the talk, I told ABC news, BBC South Today and guys from The Argus, that I thought he was reckless and that his presence in a venue three doors down from the YMCA was scandalous. I don't know whether I was on TV in the US, or in the UK on South Today, but I did get my quote and picture in The Argus. This is just the beginning! I have decided that if people like Nitschke are going to shameless promote themselves and their views, then I might as well do it too...and what is more, at least I'll be preaching the Faith of Christ and defending the sanctity and value of human life!

Anyway, Dr Death spoke for what felt like an eternity but was probably more like one and a half hours. I spent most of his lecture with my head in my hands pleading to God for the people in the room listening to him. Sadly, I was the only person there who was critical of Nitschke and the rabid suicide cult leader had the rest of the room eating out of the palm of his blood-stained hand. I asked him whether he felt any conflict between being a doctor, taking the hypocratic oath and then doing what he is doing. He basically replied that the hypocratic oath was an old, out-dated load of mumbo jumbo. Cracking! I can see why the medical community have distanced themselves from this total and utter nutjob.

During the talk he took us through the intricacies of suicide law, told us about his death machine, which he used on two victims when assisted suicide laws were relaxed briefly in Australia, now on display in the British museum, and showed us a video of a lady called "Betty" who demonstrated how to build an elasticised plastic bag to put over your head should times get hard after having ensured a friend or neighbour takes the bag away in the wake of your suicide to remove the evidence, so that 'suicide' doesn't go down on your death certificate, should you be ashamed of it. He appeared to me like a man addicted to death and to killing people. I was reminded of Dr Harold Shipman, who was sent down for euthanising the elderly and infirm as a GP.

I also managed to talk with Rev David Coleman. I told him I thought it was irresponsible to put Dr Death on and to give him such a platform. I asked him how he thought the lecture had gone and how he felt about it.

He said, "I was moved."
I said, "Hmm...Did you feel the Holy Spirit was moving?"
He said, "Yes. Yes, I think she was."

Frankly, even though I thought that response was hilarious, unfortunately, it sums up the problem with Rev David Coleman and his brand of Christianity. He believes Christianity should embrace new ideas and be open to change - any change. There is so much I could say about how sinister Dr Nitschke is and dangerous to families, individuals, society and human life he is. I think I have said as much as I can. I hope and pray that this and his other workshops in the UK do not result in any suicides, either now or in the future.