Three Women Dead In QLD “Suicide Pact” Were Part Of Pro-Euthanasia Group

Three women found dead on Ephraim Island in the Gold Coast yesterday afternoon in a possible “suicide pact” were part of a controversial pro-euthanasia group.

The women – Margaret Cummins, 78, and her daughters Heather, 54, and Wynette, 53 – were members of Dr Philip Nitschke‘s Exit International, a group who describe themselves as a “leading end-of-life choices information and advocacy organisation“. Exit International believe that informed adults, especially the elderly and seriously ill, should have “the right to determine the time and manner of their passing“. 

In a statement made from his home in the Netherlands today, Nitschke said that the women joined Exit International a bit over six months ago, and had subscribed to the organisation’s ‘Peaceful Pill eHandbook‘, a collection of research and info on voluntary euthanasia and assisted dying compiled for the elderly and seriously ill, and their friends and family. The book contains “end-of-life strategies” rated for their peacefulness and reliability, accompanied by a full analysis of their legal implications. 

Nitschke said that he had not known the women personally, and that three members of Exit International have never chosen to end their lives at the same time before. 

He continued, saying “the planning and research by the women that took place over a number of months indicated that this was a rational decision“: 

“They were not terminally ill people, but on the other hand, they were not in the best of health either.

“A rational decision by an informed adult needs to be respected, and people should have access to the best information.” 

“It needs to be respected, it doesn’t mean you have to be enthusiastic about it.“

All three women are said to have suffered medical problems. Queensland Police are not treating the deaths as suspicious.  

Euthanasia remains illegal in Australia. In NSW and Victoria, voluntary assisted dying bills are scheduled to be presented to parliament in August, while in South Australia a conscience vote on proposed euthanasia legislation was defeated by just one vote last November. A similar bill in Tasmania was voted down at the end of May. 

No voluntary assisted dying bill has ever been introduced to Queensland parliament, despite calls last year for a parliamentary inquiry into the issue. 

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