Rights of The Terminally Ill Act 1995 - Use of Act

Use of Act

While the law was in effect, four people committed suicide through its provisions.

The first was carpenter Bob Dent, 66, who died on 22 September 1996. Dent was an Australian prostate cancer sufferer who became Australia's first person to lawfully end his life by means of physician assisted suicide. Dent, who had been suffering from prostate cancer for five years in what he called "a rollercoaster of pain", left an open letter when he died that stated: "If I were to keep a pet animal in the same condition I am in, I would be prosecuted. If you disagree with voluntary euthanasia, then don't use it, but don't deny the right to me to use it." He died with help from Dr Philip Nitschke.

The law applied to nonresidents as well and one nonresident did take advantage of the law. A resident of South Australia, Janet Mills, 52, came to Darwin in December 1996. She had suffered for some 10 years from a rare disease known as Mycosis Fungoides. She used Dr. Nitschke's device to take her life on 2 January 1997.

In addition, an anonymous 69-year-old male cancer patient used the law and Dr Nitschke's device to die on 22 January 1997. A further two people had received approval to use the law when the law was nullified; a proposed amendment to the Voluntary Euthanasia Laws Bill allowing them to proceed did not pass.