'Dr Death' Philip Nitschke to open Australia's first euthanasia clinic in Gilberton this week Voluntary euthanasia campaigner and Exit International director, Dr Philip Nitschke. A EUTHANASIA clinic set up in Adelaide will test drugs, distribute nitrogen kits and "provide services" to terminally ill patients. It is expected to start taking patients by the end of the week. Voluntary euthanasia campaigner and Exit International director Dr Philip Nitschke, who is known worldwide as "Dr Death," stressed none of the services offered by the clinic would be illegal. Although he conceded it was "a grey line, this idea of giving people advice" about euthanasia. Dr Nitschke said Adelaide was chosen as the site for Australia's first euthanasia clinic and research laboratory because legislation attempting to legalise voluntary euthanasia in South Australia was before Parliament. Dr Nitschke said the Ending Life with Dignity Bill, proposed by Independent MP Bob Such, "could well pass through the SA parliament in the near future and the services offered by the euthanasia centre will become critical." The clinic is expecting a couple of patients a week, including some who travel from interstate. The facility at Gilberton, funded by bequests, will arrange clinic visits for seriously and terminally ill patients, offer virtual internet consultations and accurately test euthanasia drugs people may have obtained through "unreliable channels." Dr Nitschke said it would also work on developing a new method for a peaceful death that makes use of readily available nitrogen and help distribute nitrogen kits. "Testing drugs to give people accurate information about what will happen if they are consumed in an important medical service and entirely consistent with the principals of harm minimisation," Dr Nitschke said. I get calls every day from people wanting to know what end of life choices are available to them and asking if they can have a consultation. Dr Nitschke also confirmed he had received recent communication from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency about two investigations into his medical registration and suitability to practice medicine. In a letter on November 1 he was told the investigations, which have been running for two years, are still ongoing "because of the nature and complexity of the issues being investigated."