October 24, 2016

Nitschke’s Handbook sold to different buyer

Caroline Overington, The Australian

Could there be two families with the unusual surname Manrique, both in Sydney, both seeking advice on how to die peacefully?

It seemed unlikely, and so when Exit International founder Philip Nitschke heard a family of that name had died of deliberate carbon monoxide poisoning, he assumed it was the same ÂManrique who had downloaded a copy of his suicide handbook.

The book, the print version of which is banned in Australia, has a chapter on using carbon monoxide.

Dr Nitschke told The Australian on Wednesday he would not judge the family until all the facts were known, and that nobody should judge a parent who ends the life of a disabled child until they have walked in their shoes.

Blowback, especially from disability advocates fighting the introduction of a euthanasia bill in South Australia, was immediate.

A day later, Dr Nitschke texted to say he was mistaken: a different Manrique had downloaded his book. Some people were sceptical what are the chances and thought Dr Nitschke might have changed his story to avoid a public backlash. But it is true.

Tracked down by The Weekend Australian, Prue Manrique, a keen lover of life in Paddington in Sydney’s inner east, confirmed yesterday she had bought The Peaceful Pill Handbook from Exit International.

It was not for herself ‘I think anyone would believe that’ she said cheerily but for a relative suffering a terminal illness.

She had been stockpiling pills like many people do and we were concerned about whether it would work, or would she leave herself in a worse state, Ms Manrique said. So I ordered the book.

In the end, we didn’t use it, because by the time she needed to end her life, she was no longer capable. She had to go into a home for people with dementia, which she did not have, and although it wasn’t terrible, I know it wasn’t what she wanted. Ms Manrique said she had not known the Manrique family who died.

Police have yet to confirm whether the deaths of Fernando Manrique, wife Maria Claudia Lutz and children Elisa, 11, and Martin, 10 were a triple murder and suicide by Manrique, or an act committed by both parents.