Qld: Qld Govt condemns plastic death bags
BRISBANE, Aug 20 AAP - The launch of suicide bags in Brisbane today was part of a campaignto pressure the Queensland government on the issue of euthanasia, Premier Peter Beattiesaid.
Mr Beattie described the Australian-designed suicide or "exit bag" to be unveiled byeuthanasia advocate Dr Philip Nitschke as distasteful in the extreme.
EXIT Australia director Dr Nitschke said the bags provided the only option for peoplelacking the money or connections to kill themselves with drugs.
The bags have an elasticised opening to provide an airtight seal around the neck, suffocatingusers.
"I don't support what Dr Nitschke is seeking to do here," Mr Beattie told state parliament.
"I think what he is trying to do is continue his campaign to pressure the Queenslandgovernment in relation to the issue of euthanasia."
But the laws would not change nor could the bags be banned, Mr Beattie said.
"If the government were to ban the bags, it would also have to ban numerous productsfreely available today which could be used to inflict injury or cause death if consumersused them incorrectly, for example knives, bricks, razor blades and the works," Mr Beattiesaid.
Meanwhile, right-to-life groups are outraged and claim the bags are a dangerous wayto promote membership for EXIT Australia, a national euthanasia group.
Only members of EXIT Australia can gain access to the bags.
Australian Federation of Right to Life Associations spokeswoman Mary Joseph said thebags would result in a higher suicide rate among people with mental illnesses, which hadalready increased by 400 per cent over the past 40 years.
"Attempts in suicide are cries for help from desperate people," Ms Joseph said in a statement.
"But if Philip Nitschke gets his way, these desperate people will not get the help they need."
AAP ved/sc/las/de
KEYWORD: DIE SECOND DAYLEAD
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