The expected return to Ireland of the founder of Exit International,
the controversial euthanasia association, has been met with a frosty
reaction among various organisations who claim the trip will be ''deeply
distressing'' for some people.
Dr Philip Nitschke, who came to Ireland last year, is due to return
in a weeks time for a series of lectures but the Pro Life Campaign
is encouraging people to ''ignore'' his arrival as ''the most effective
way to deny him thriving on controversy and publicity''.
''Exit International portrays itself as a compassionate group, but,
in reality, its campaign for euthanasia is deeply distressing to some of
the most vulnerable groups in society. The very idea of social
solidarity loses its meaning if and when society reaches a point where
it regards some lives of having lesser value or even as a burden on
society,'' said John Smyth of the Pro Life Campaign.
Support
Exit International was launched in Ireland last May and the group
says it offers a source of information and support to people interested
in learning more about euthanasia and assisted suicide.
However, the Pro Life Campaign says the kind of society it envisages leads to the devaluing of human life.
''Dr Philip Nitschke may seek to pass himself off as some kind of
human rights campaigner, but he is nothing of the sort. Despite all the
talk of compassion, his work involves killing, not caring for, some of
the most vulnerable members of society,'' Mr Smyth added.
The Irish Hospice Foundation has also voiced reservations about the
upcoming trip, saying that every life remains ''intrinsically
important'' to the end and their purpose is to enable a person
approaching life's end ''live in a fulfilling and dignified way''.
''We believe that euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide run
counter to hospice philosophy, undermine the trust between the dying
person and his/her caregivers and threaten to diminish the true autonomy
of vulnerable people,'' said hospice spokesperson Paul Murray.