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Life Institute spokeswoman, Niamh Uí Bhriain, has said that Dr Philip Nitschke's persistent visits to Ireland are an attempt to continually seek media attention, but that the message of the euthanasia advocate is both disturbing and dangerous.

The pro-life advocate told the Evening Herald that "Dr Nitschke is an attention seeker who is singling out the sick and vulnerable in Irish society." "In my opinion he is reaching out to people who are often vulnerable and depressed," she said.

"Suicide is a shocking problem in this country. I think if he's a doctor he should be helping people to lift themselves out of depression, or helping them with palliative care," she added.

Nitschke is a leading proponent of assisted suicide who previous visits to Ireland were the cause of much controversy. Despite huge media attention however, attendances at Nitschke's suicide 'workshops' have been tiny, with the most recent event attracting just a handful of interested persons (and a crowd of journalists).

Dubbed Dr Death, he told 4FM's David Harvey show that he will attend a debate on assisted suicide in Trinity College on November 17, and then organise a suicide seminar.

The Evening Herald reported that Nitschke currently advises his seminar attendees on the "exit bag," a bag which can be filled with helium and nitrogen and pulled over the person's head, resulting in death.

"We all know people who've taken their own lives or who have cancer, and what he's saying is dangerous," said Ms Uí Bhriain. "I think he is a huge publicity seeker. He seems to crave attention and comes out every so often with a new device to end lives."

"He used to talk about Nembuthal, a drug used by vets, and then it was the euthanasia chair, and then the exit bag. He's getting more extraordinary by the minute," she told the newspaper.

Links

• See the article here:http://www.herald.ie/news/protest-over-dr-deaths-trinity-talk-on-suicide-2913479.html