December 4, 2014
AMA NT Again Postpones Nitschke Suspension Meeting
RIGHT-to-die doctor Philip Nitschke says a meeting to expel him from the Australian Medical Association NT branch is nothing but a late-notice kangaroo court.
His opponent, AMA NT boss Dr Robert Parker, says the controversial doc is only playing more games.
In the latest stoush between Dr Nitschke and medical authority, the AMA NT will postpone its attempt to expel him until the new year, citing reams of information dumped on its members by Dr Nitschke on the eve of the hearing – originally scheduled for last night.
It comes just weeks after an appeals tribunal retired to consider Dr Nitschke’s protest against the Medical Board of Australia’s decision to suspend his registration.
In an email sent to Dr Nitschke on Sunday night the AMA NT requested for him to appear at 5.40pm yesterday at an AMA NT council meeting.
READ: NITSCHKE QUESTIONED AT HEARING
Dr Nitschke said the email had attached two articles about mood disorders and suicide and also informed him he was to have 15 minutes to present his case. He said the information in the email was new and he had not been given time to prepare.
“That all happened on the weekend and somehow I’m expected to get it all together within, seemingly, about 24 hours,” Dr Nitschke said. “I’m not terribly comfortable.”
Dr Parker said Dr Nitschke had been aware of the AMA NT’s intentions.
“We’ve got an email trail that shows he was well informed about the meeting – weeks ago,” Dr Parker said.
“There’s a lot of game playing going on – he’s a master of it … we delayed it until (last night) and he’s suddenly given us all this material the day before the meeting and our members don’t have a chance to review it – he’s given us about 180 pages of this stuff.”
Dr Parker said Dr Nitschke had also been informed of the postponement, which Dr Nitschke denied.