Nitschke, Philip

Philip Haig Nitschke (; born 8 August 1947) is an Australian humanist, author, former physician, and founder and director of the pro-euthanasia group Exit International. He campaigned successfully to have a legal euthanasia law passed in Australia's Northern Territory and assisted four people in ending their lives before the law was overturned by the Government of Australia. Nitschke was the first doctor in the world to administer a legal, voluntary, lethal injection, after which the patient activated the syringe using a computer. In 2015, the Medical Board of Australia (AHPRA) permanently suspended Nitschke's registration as a doctor due to "professional misconduct and unprofessional conduct". Nitschke has been referred to in the media as "Dr Death". Former UN medical director Michael Irwin branded him “totally irresponsible” for telling people how to obtain drugs that could help them end their own lives, and relatives of people who took their lives after contact with Exit International have denounced Nitschke, saying their loved ones were not in a rational state of mind at the time.