An assisted suicide advocate known as Dr Death is holding a suicide ‘workshop’ in London today.

The ‘workshop’, led by Dr Philip Nitschke and his organisation Exit International, will explore different ways to commit suicide in detail.

Dr Nitschke’s visit comes one week after former Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt controversially called for a public inquiry to consider legalising assisted suicide, during a debate in the House of Commons.

The euthanasia activist’s arrival in the UK has caused alarm among pro-lifers.

Vulnerable

Dominica Roberts, chair of the ProLife Alliance, said: “I do think that perhaps he’s not a desirable person to be allowed to come here frightening our disabled and elderly people”.

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, chair of the pro-life Dying Well Group, said: “I hope that he will be closely observed because I find the kind of suicide message that he’s pedalling extremely worrying”.

She added: “The vast majority of deaths in this country are now much, much more peaceful, much better than they used to be because of all of the advances that we’ve made within the medical care of people that are dying”.

The Australian euthanasia activist was temporarily detained while attempting to enter the UK, but officials allowed him to enter on a ten-day visa.

Euthanasia Kits

Dr Nitschke’s organisation, Exit International, sells do-it-yourself euthanasia kits.

Dr Nitschke attempted to defend his visit, saying: “They (authorities) have allowed me to come in and I’m grateful for that because we’ve got a growing number of members of Exit and they want choices,” he said.

“The best way to give them those choices is to be able to come here and run these sort of sessions so that they get their questions answered.”

Dr Nitschke is due to deliver a second suicide ‘workshop’ in Dublin on Friday.

Prosecution

The euthanasia activist’s arrival follows the publication last month of prosecution guidelines which state that people are unlikely to be prosecuted for assisting a suicide if they are “motivated by compassion”.

But when the guidelines were issued, it was made clear that assisted suicide remains illegal.