|
"Death That Did Not Help the Cause" |
|
|
|
|
"Nancy Crick, the Gold Coast grandmother whose determination to end her life made her a cause célèbre of euthanasia supporters, in death has provided a. compelling reason for many to be uneasy with this practice..." (Daily Telegraph of Australia, 28 May 02). "The almost carnival atmosphere as Mrs. Crick drank a concoction of poisons bordered on the bizarre, and the enthusiasm of euthanasia groups over her right to do so was offensive." At autopsy it was found that Mrs.Crick had a twisted bowel, but was not suffering from any form of cancer. Dr. Philip Nitschke, Australia's leading euthanasiast, declared she was right to kill herself anyway. In the Canberra Times of 28 May 02 Michael Cook wrote: "The big losers from legalised euthanasia will be ailing elderly women ... The more publicity euthanasia receives though stunts like Nancy Crick's death, the more we foster negative attitudes about old age and disability. More and more grandmothers will think their families would be better off without them. Instead of a campaign for mercy killing, we need a campaign for merciful care..."
|