Episode 10: Dr. Philip Nitschke - Founder of Exit International

Our guest on this episode is Dr. Philip Nitschke, Founder of Exit International.

In 1996, Philip became the first doctor in the world to administer a legal, lethal voluntary injection under the short-lived Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995 (NT).

Four of Philip’s terminally ill patients used this law to end their suffering before the law was overturned in March 1997 by the Australian Parliament.

That same year, Philip formed the Voluntary Euthanasia Research foundation (now called Exit International). Ongoing pressure from the Australian Medical Board led him to hand in his medical registration in 2015, and he now works full time developing end of life options for the sick and elderly and publishing details through his on-line Peaceful Pill Handbook. 

Philip's autobiography entitled  Damned If I Do was published by Melbourne University Press in 2013. The website for Exit International is www.exitinternational.net

You can find the link to Philip's interview HERE or on iTunes HERE

Episode 9: Ted Leck - Pastor, Church in the City

Ted Leck is pastor at the Church in the City, an urban-based church located in Toronto. Ted has been married for 24 years, he has 3 daughters. Ted grew up in Sudbury, Ontario and has been a pastor for 23 years.

You can listen to Ted's interview on iTunes HERE

You will find the website Church in the City HERE

Episode 8: Ian Wood, Christians Supporting Choice for Voluntary Euthanasia

Rev. Trevor Bensch, together with fellow Christian Ian Wood, decided to establish a group to allow Christians to voice their support, and Christians Supporting Choice for Voluntary Euthanasia was born in February 2009. Christians Supporting Choice for Voluntary Euthanasia is based in Australia.  The website for their group is www.christiansforve.org.au

Ian is the National Coordinator for the group.

You can find this interview on our website HERE or on iTunes HERE

Podcast epsode 7: Senator Betty E. Unger

Our guest on Episode 7 is the Honourable Betty E. Unger. Senator Unger represents the province of Alberta Canada. Before becoming a Senator, Betty E. Unger worked as a Registered Nurse for several years.

Senator Unger has served on several provincial and community boards including the Western Catholic Reporter, the Greater Edmonton Foundation and she was a member of the Finance and Administration Committee of St. Joseph’s Basilica.

In November 2005, Ms. Unger was awarded the Alberta Centennial Medal for service to the Province of Alberta and to Albertans.

Ms. Unger was appointed to the Senate of Canada in January 2012. She is the first woman Senator in Canadian history to be elected by a province and appointed by the Prime Minister. In 2012, Senator Unger was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. 

Listen to the interview with Senator Unger HERE

Episode 6: Ruth von Fuchs, Right to Die Society of Canada

Our guest today is Ruth von Fuchs, President of the Right to Die Society of Canada. Quoting from their website… We inform/advise regulators (e.g. elected or appointed officials) and policy-makers (e.g. medical associations and governing bodies).

We participate in think tanks devoted to improving the availability of humane and reliable self-deliverance methods.

We present a complete range of options to people who are faced with intolerable suffering from an irremediable condition, always working to help them find the option which is best for them, whether or not that turns out to be bringing their life to an end. Their website is www.righttodie.ca

Even when she was a teenager, Ruth suspected that dying was often more horrible than it needed to be. She doubted that the standard approach to this problem, namely to avoid thinking about it, was the most effective tactic. There being no Canadian right-to-die organizations in those days, she joined an American group called the Euthanasia Educational Council.

For her B.A. Ruth majored in philosophy and psychology and later earned an M.A. in philosophy.

1991, Ruth and her husband joined the newly formed Right To Die Society of Canada and were active members from then on.

Listen to her interview on SoundCloud HERE or on iTunes HERE