Older Australians Join Culture of Death
Pastor Dale Morgan
Older Australians Join Culture of Death**
* May 13th, 2007 10:10 AM
By Ray Perdue
May 13, 2007—Hundreds of Australia’s elderly are joining the
ever-growing death culture of those who wish to use medicine to commit
suicide.
More than 100 have smuggled the euthanasia drug, Nembutal, from Tijuana
Mexico. At least 800 more are attempting to make the drug themselves in
homegrown laboratories. The pro-euthanasia group, Exit Australia, is
helping older Australians make or smuggle the drug.
The euthanasia debate has been raging around the globe for over a
decade. In 1996 Australia’s Northern Territory became the first place in
the world to pass voluntary euthanasia laws. In September of that year
66-year old cancer patient, Bob Dent, decided to use those laws, and six
months later, the Australian parliament overturned the legislation.
Those who are involved in the smuggling or manufacture of euthanasia
drugs in Australia say that when they can no longer take care of
themselves they would rather end their lives in a peaceful manner,
rather than suffer for a long time.
Bron Norman, a 64-year member of a group that claims to be making
euthanasia drugs in a secret lab, told Australian media that he doesn’t
understand why he can’t have a drug that ends his life peacefully if he
wants it that way. Norman claims that he and 20 other older Australians
donated $2,000 Australian Dollars each in order to set up their lab, and
that after two years of trying, they have now successfully made the drug.
Some older Australians say they would rather end their life using a drug
rather than be sent to assisted living homes.
Many in Western nations feel they should be allowed to choose when they
want to end their lives. Some believe they should be allowed to do so
when they can no longer take care of themselves. While others believe
that the time to end one’s life comes when there is nothing left to live
for.
In recent years many European nations have made some form of euthanasia
legal for their citizens. Belgium and the Netherlands are the only two
countries with "fully legalized euthanasia. Austria, Denmark, France,
Germany, Hungary, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland all
allow "passive forms of euthanasia.
Notes:
"Elderly Australians cook up Suicide drugs: report", May 8, 2007, AFP
"Elderly manufacture illegal euthanasia drug", May 8, 2007, The Age
"Elderly set up secret labs to make drugs that will let them die", by
Tom Curtis, May 9, 2007, The Scotsman
"Euthanasia group importing illegal drug, members say", May 7, 2007, ABC
News Online (Australia)
"Euthanasia in Europe: how it works", March 21, 2005, Agence France-Presse