Joint Media Release from the Australian Voluntary Euthanasia Societies
For immediate release: 5 June 2002
Nancy Crick's Death.
The circumstances surrounding Nancy Crick's death have aroused
controversy. Commentators and the public should consider the following
points when assessing this matter.
(1) Nancy Crick's death was a rational suicide, not voluntary
euthanasia. If assistance in suicide is needed, it is essential that
there be a compassionate law with strict safeguards.
(2) Nancy Crick's views were open to scrutiny via her website and
through interviews with many journalists. No one suggested that she was
not rational, or that she was not competent to make considered
decisions.
(3) Nancy Crick's decision to end her life was entirely her own as
her family have attested. There is no evidence that she was manipulated
in any way.
(4) Her decision to make the circumstances of her end-of-life public
were entirely her own, and she could have ended the matter at any time.
(5) She constantly reviewed her situation, delaying her decision to
end her life on a number of occasions, notably to see whether palliative
care could ameliorate her suffering.
(6) She found that palliative care eased her pain, but clouded her
consciousness and did not help with her other symptoms to her
satisfaction. Palliative experts agree that 5-7% of patients are not
able to have their suffering adequately relieved.
(7) Nancy had categorically refused (as was her legal right) to have
further surgery as the previous operations had provided no benefit.
(8) Nancy originally had cancer. The fact that she apparently did
not have cancer when she died (based on an apparently leaked
pathologist's report) surprised many, but the advice that there was no
cancer to be found at her last operation had been clearly known to
Nancy. However no one before her death could state with certainty that
she did not have cancer.
(9) Nancy's symptoms of constant pain, nausea and vomiting,
diarrhoea, and severe and progressive weight loss were entirely
consistent with failure of her gastro-intestinal tract which leads to
death through lack of nutrition comparable to starvation.
(10) Nancy's decision to end her life was based entirely on her
intolerable suffering which was unrelievable, and NOT because she had
cancer.
(11) She was suffering from a hopeless illness, which is one that is
permanent and incapable of recovery, and which seriously and
irreversibly impairs the person's quality of life so that life has
become intolerable to that person.
(12) Nancy was also terminally ill. Her severe weight loss to
approximately half her normal weight, presumably due to malnutrition and
malabsorption, represents a trajectory of terminal illness that is just
as certain to kill her as if she actually did have cancer.
(13) The manner of her dying was peaceful, dignified and secure, in
stark contrast to her 'future' without her own intervention.
The Voluntary Euthanasia State Societies all support the right of a
person to have family and friends present when they rationally end their
life and believe that these people should not be at any legal risk when
doing so. We applaud the courage and decency of the relatives, friends
and supporters who granted Nancy's wish not to die alone.
We strongly endorse all those, such as Philip Nitschke, who tirelessly
and unselfishly supported Nancy Crick through the suffering of her final
illness.
For further information please contact the Society in your State:
Voluntary Euthanasia Society of Victoria - Rodney Syme (03) 9521 3297
Voluntary Euthanasia Society of New South Wales - Giles Yates (02) 9212 4782 (W) (02) 9571 8937 (H)
Voluntary Euthanasia Society of Queensland Brisbane - Sandra Milne (07) 3349 6372
Voluntary Euthanasia Society of Queensland Sun Coast - Michael Traugott (07) 5477 0824
Voluntary Euthanasia Society of Queensland Gold Coast - John Edge (07) 5536 6502
Voluntary Euthanasia Society of South Australia - Frances Coombe 0404 851 387
Voluntary Euthanasia Society of Tasmania - Sheila Howe (03) 6244 3821
Voluntary Euthanasia Society of Western Australia - Sheila Suttner (08) 9276 9144
NT Voluntary Euthanasia Society - Judy Dent (08) 8945 1446
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