Marshall Perron: I often wonder how may suicides there are in our community motivated by news of a terminal illness. I think it's a significant number of suicides.

When the law in Darwin passed in parliament, terminally ill people from all parts of Australia left their homes and belongings, said good-bye to their families and came to Darwin. Desperate for peace of mind, they learned soon after they arrived that the law would not take effect immediately. Most returned home, several committed suicide in Darwin hotels, others died of their illness waiting.

Some suggest the situation in Darwin is sad and pathetic, but there is a similar situation developing in America through the efforts of Michigan pathologist Dr. Jack Kevorkian. The hemispheres are different, but the message is the same. People are desperate for help in dying before they lose control of their faculties, their dignity. Some say it is the unique make-up of the parliament and the lifestyle philosophy of a northern territorian that contributed to the support this act had in the process of becoming law. Marshall Perron explains.

Marshall Perron: The northern territory is a place where the population has always considered themselves somewhat pioneering. It's a harsh place to live. It's desert and semi-desert conditions; great hardships were experienced in those times. Darwin our principal city with 180,000 people is only a small suburb of a major city. Even in Darwin people would see themselves still frontier, a little different to others in Australia or the rest of the world.

There are probably not a lot of parliaments in the world where this could happen, they are much bigger much older. We are only 18 years old. Most are decades and even centuries old. History and traditions, internal pressures, party factions, systems of payback and reward among members, all work against a true democratic vote of individuals who believe what's in their heart is right.

Marshall Perron's 21 years in government give him a mature perspective to contribute to this debate. He drafted the law so that all questions would be addressed in the legislation and he led and encouraged a public debate long before it came to a vote. He reached some unconventional conclusions.

Marshall Perron: There are not a lot of swingers in this debate. If you ask them about 70% will be for and the rest against and then you enter in volumes of research and opinion and you ask them again later, you'll get the same numbers. This isn't an issue where people change their mind.

What we have to say as politicians is ok, you can debate it ad nauseam as to whether we have the right to die or not. You need to stop arguing yes or no, and just move to how to best regulate it not whether or not we should have it. Let's not talk about getting consensus on this issue because you never will.

Chris Wake: It is proper to be appalled at the lack of thought that went into this law. If you asked the question, is it better to give the patient better palliative care or kill the patient, you will get different numbers. The need for euthanasia disappears when you put a hand on someone's shoulder and remove their fear of loneliness. If you understand that, you understand the success of the hospice movement is better than a quick shot in the arm and goodnight.

Nitschke: 20 patients have come to Darwin to die, disproving the AMA theory that good palliative care will end the desire for voluntary euthanasia. These people are leaving the best palliative care in the world. The best care in the world will not change their mind.

Nitschke has developed a great respect for these patients and their wishes. But doctors have their own moral demons to wrestle with. Is he, or any other doctor, willing to administer the lethal dose that will end a life?

Nitschke: I'd rather not do the injection, executioner feeling. I would do it if it was insisted. There are problems with pills; not being able to keep them down and giving yourself an injection, you would pass out before you received the entire lethal dose.

So if Dr. Nitschke and his colleagues are uncomfortable with the "hands on" involvement of hastening a patients death, how will they serve those who wish to die?

Introducing "Self Deliverance." Nitschke and a colleague created "Self Deliverance", a computer program that removes the doctor from the equation and allows the patient to actually administer his or her own lethal dose.

Nitschke: What you have is a syringe driver which administers the dose when activated by the patient. It incorporates a lap top computer with three separate screens. If the patient answers no or presses a wrong key it automatically shuts off.

All John Graham wants is to die as he has lived ... on his own terms. He has fared better than some and worse than others with his illness, but finds strength in advocating and moreover fighting, for the rights of the terminally ill.

 John Graham: The simplest way I can put it is the way I have already. I phrase it in a way that's consistent with the society we live in, but I have reached my used-by date.

I'm not asking for anything you wouldn't do for a cat or a dog. There is a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, but not people.

John Graham has a unique perspective on death and an unwavering belief in God. He believes God gave man control over his own life and death and wishes people would be as comfortable with their deaths as they are with their lives. Perhaps as comfortable as he is.

John Graham: Death is a friend to me. Do you cry when you see an old friend you haven't been with for years, you haven't seen for years? I've been dead. I know what it's like. Being alive is worse. Being kept alive in hospital, on machinery, that terrifies me.

It's very difficult to explain... but within every human being is the spirit of the person. It goes on. It doesn't die with the body. The body is just a hunk, a shell, a cocoon. Does a snake die when it sheds its outer skin? When a butterfly goes from the cocoon, is it dead? The beautiful butterfly, spreads its beautiful wings and flies out of the cocoon, is it dead? It's the same with humans.

Death will come to everyone. To me it means freedom, peace, going home.

I graduated.


Director Michael Lutzky received an email from a friend of John Graham in April, 1999.

John Graham, his friend said, had "died comfortably."


[ End ]