June 17, 2015

MET Decide Not to Charge Dr Philip Nitschke

Media Release

MET Drop Investigation to Allow Assisted Sucide Show to Run at EdFringe

A decision this week by the CPS not to proceed with assisted suicide charges against Australian activist (and soon to be comedian) Dr Philip Nitschke has cleared the way for the world premiere of his show ‘Dicing with Dr Death’ at the Edinburgh Fringe.

In April, Dr Nitschke was interviewed under cautioned at Charing Cross Police station with his lawyer present. At the time, MET officers stated that the decision about whether charges would be brought lay with the DPP.

In good news, the MET notified Dr Nitschke’s lawyers – Howard Kennedy – this week that no further action would be taken. This gives the green light to Dr Nitschke’s planned Edinburgh show.

Dr Nitschke received the news as he was about to return to the UK from a speaking tour of Australia and from meetings on the US west coast.  Speaking from London, Dr Nitschke said he was ‘thrilled’ to get this good news.

‘The whole ‘Dicing With Dr Death’ show has been on hold as we awaited this decision. There seems to be a peculiar sensitivity in Britain in regard to ‘talking about’ and ‘inciting’ rational suicide’ he said. ‘This is not shared by other English speaking countries such as Australia, Canada or the US’.

According to Dr Nitschke, the Edinburgh comedy will also push the free speech boundaries. ‘The trick will be making sure that I don’t fall over the legal cliff’ he said.

Dr Nischke said that the audiences at his show will need to sign disclaimers stating that they will not use any of the material presented to end their or anyone else’s life.

This is expected to be the first show in the history of the Fringe where audiences will need to sign off on the legalities in order to get home afterwards.

Contact:  

Dr Philip Nitschke (Activist/ Comedian) 07883 509 765

Kevin Shepherd (Director)

Email: contact@exitinternational.net

18 June 2015

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