A New Zealand woman killed herself after consulting with Philip Nitschke, Australia’s “Dr. Death,” and traveling to Mexico to obtain lethal drugs, the Sunday Star-Times reported.  The unidentified woman, 68, was a member of Nitschke’s pro-euthanasia group, Exit International. She was not terminally ill, but had suffered from depression, according to the Star-Times.

The woman corresponded with Nitschke before her trip to Mexico in May 2005.

“Nitschke said he sent her photographs telling her what shops to buy from and what to buy,” according to the Star-Times.

She was able to purchase phenobarbitone, which is used to euthanize animals, for $20, and wrote to Nitschke again when she returned to New Zealand. Eleven months later, a neighbor found her dead body inside her Wellington apartment, the Star-Times reported.

“We are appalled at this woman’s death—it’s a great tragedy,” Right to Life New Zealand spokesman Ken Orr told Star-Times. “It’s outrageous [Nitschke] is teaching people about this and getting away with it.”

Nitschke denies that he is responsible for her death, claiming that providing details about how people can kill themselves is not the same as actually assisting in the act. “It’s a far cry between giving people access to accurate information and what most people would actually consider to be the meaning of assisting,” Nitschke told the New Zealand Herald.

Nitschke has a long history of euthanasia promotion in Australia. Authorities in that country have attempted to stop his actions by passing several laws and regulations, including a ban on discussion of suicide over telephone or the Internet, the AAP reported

He has now shifted his focus to New Zealand, which does not have strong laws in place. Nitschke held several seminars to teach people how to kill themselves in New Zealand in early February, according to the New Zealand Press Association (NZPA).

Traveling to Mexico to purchase phenobarbitone is advocated by Nitschke in the seminars. Exit International has organized tours there to buy the lethal drug, NZPA reported.

New Zealanders were shocked by the woman’s death, and urged authorities to quickly review Nitschke’s activities and take action to prevent further suicides. “Our efforts need to be focused on restoring their self-worth and supporting them with our caring presence,” New Zealand Catholic Bioethics Centre director Rev. Dr. Michael McCabe told the NZPA, “rather than simply providing them with a recipe to kill themselves while leaving them in their isolation.”

Part One