Right-to-die Fringe show dices with suicide laws

A RIGHT-TO-DIE campaigner will demonstrate an ‘assisted dying device’ at his Edinburgh Festival Fringe show.

Dr Philip Nitschke, 67, who pioneered a short-lived euthanasia law in Australia, will demonstrate an assisted-dying device and tell ‘satirical euthanasia anecdotes’ at his show, Dicing With Dr Death.

Dr Nitschke was questioned under caution by Metropolitan Police upon his recent entry to the UK amid concerns about the content of his show and critics say he could breach Scottish laws that prevent aiding a suicide.

He has now appointed lawyers here amid legal concerns.

With just two weeks to go until his appearance at The Caves in Edinburgh, the medic yesterday tried to to ensure he does not breach the l aw on advising, counselling or assisting others to commit suicide. Anti-euthanasia

‘Travel close to the edge’

group Care Not Killing has urged Police Scotland and the Crown Office to take a close look at the show.

green MSP Patrick Harvie, who piloted the recently- defeated Assisted Suicide Bill through Holyrood, welcomed Dr Nitschke to Scotland provided his show is conducted ‘in a sensitive and respectful manner’.

Dr Nitschke said: ‘Obviously we have to travel quite close to the edge, certainly the edge of the law if not necessarily the edge of good taste. The edge of the law is the reason the Metropolitan Police wanted to talk to me about the show, because giving information about these sorts of drugs can be construed as being in breach of the law which prohibits advising, counselling or assisting.

‘We will be asking people attending the show to sign disclaimers for that very reason.’