03-05-2008, 05:58 AM
POLICE have raided the homes of two terminally ill people who announced on television they planned to end their lives, says euthanasia campaigner Philip Nitschke.
Dr Nitschke said Australian Federal Police (AFP) today seized the lethal drug Nembutal and items including a diary from the country Victorian homes of Don Flounders, 78, and Angie Belecciu, 54.
The raids came after Don and his wife Iris, 85, this week told Channel 7 they recently travelled to Mexico to bring back Nembutal for Mr Flounders and Ms Belecciu.
The AFP has not confirmed the raids and was not available for comment.
Dr Nitschke condemned the action as heavy-handed.
"They (police) now have to use their power to target the sick and vulnerable simply so they can totally remove any option of a peaceful death," he said.
"I received desperate phone calls from Angie and Don while they were simultaneously going through their houses."
Dr Nitschke said people regularly flew to the US and crossed into Mexico by land to buy the drug, which is used by veterinarians and easy to obtain there.
He said he had instructed the pair not to comment to police until they had lawyers present, which he would organise.
Mr Flounders, whose wife's diary was reportedly seized, lives in Warragul, and suffers from the terminal asbestos-related disease mesothelioma.
Ms Belecciu, who lives in Hastings, has breast cancer.
Dr Nitschke said Australian Federal Police (AFP) today seized the lethal drug Nembutal and items including a diary from the country Victorian homes of Don Flounders, 78, and Angie Belecciu, 54.
The raids came after Don and his wife Iris, 85, this week told Channel 7 they recently travelled to Mexico to bring back Nembutal for Mr Flounders and Ms Belecciu.
The AFP has not confirmed the raids and was not available for comment.
Dr Nitschke condemned the action as heavy-handed.
"They (police) now have to use their power to target the sick and vulnerable simply so they can totally remove any option of a peaceful death," he said.
"I received desperate phone calls from Angie and Don while they were simultaneously going through their houses."
Dr Nitschke said people regularly flew to the US and crossed into Mexico by land to buy the drug, which is used by veterinarians and easy to obtain there.
He said he had instructed the pair not to comment to police until they had lawyers present, which he would organise.
Mr Flounders, whose wife's diary was reportedly seized, lives in Warragul, and suffers from the terminal asbestos-related disease mesothelioma.
Ms Belecciu, who lives in Hastings, has breast cancer.