Euthanasia advocate Philip Nitschke suspended by the Australian Medical Board (ABC)

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Euthanasia advocate Philip Nitschke has been suspended by the Australian Medical Board, which says he "presents a serious risk to public health and safety".

The board last night voted to use emergency powers to immediately suspend Dr Nitschke, who can appeal the ruling.

Dr Nitschke is expected to hold a press conference at 10:30am (AEST).

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, which provides support to the Medical Board of Australia, launched an investigation into Dr Nitschke earlier this month following reporting by the ABC.  

Dr Nitschke admits he supported Perth man Nigel Brayley in his decision to commit suicide despite knowing he was not terminally ill and was only 45 years old.

Mental health groups Beyond Blue and the Black Dog Institute believe Dr Nitschke had an obligation to recommended psychiatric help to Mr Brayley, but Dr Nitschke says it was not his role to intervene. 

Speaking in Melbourne last week, Dr Nitschke said "the Medical Board, under pressure, has suddenly decided that immediate deregistration seems to be the best option. So that's what they decided to do."

Earlier this month the president of the Australian Medical Association's West Australian branch, Michael Gannon, said Dr Nitschke did not provide the appropriate duty of care and the incident would lead Dr Nitschke's supporters to abandon him.

But Dr Nitschke responded by saying there were increased sales of his euthanasia e-book and extra bookings for future workshops since Mr Brayley's case was made public.

"We actually never had such high sales of the book in the eight years that the book has been on sale," he said.

Mr Brayley, who was not an obvious euthanasia candidate, died in May this year after taking the euthanasia drug Nembutal, which he illegally imported.

Mr Brayley had sent Dr Nitschke emails in which he stated he was not terminally ill, but was "suffering".

His friends say he was depressed.

_People seeking support and information about suicide can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14._

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24536112/euthanasia-advocate-philip-nitschke-suspended-by-the-australian-medical-board/