"I turn people away every week who have absolutely straightforward and impeccable reasons for getting access to a decent death," Nitschke said. Others, whom he believes would have met the requirements of the
overturned euthanasia law, he helps.

He won't say exactly how because "it puts me in the area of illegal activity," but those helped are no longer alive.

"In each case I decide, 'Can I get away with this or can't I?' If they get help it is because I think I can. If they don't it is because it is too risky."

Several attempts to reinstate euthanasia have not met with success elsewhere in Australia. One proposal would have made euthanasia a crime but imposed only a
trivial penalty for doctors involved. In the national Parliament in December, a motion calling for a referendum on the question was largely ignored. Euthanasia bills in three Australian states are at
various stages, but are foundering without major party support.

The head of the Northern Territory government, Shane Stone, says euthanasia may be reinstated if the territory is granted statehood as proposed by 2000. Under the constitution, the national Parliament cannot override state laws.

While the euthanasia law would not reactivate automatically, Stone predicted an "overwhelming majority" of the territory's legislators would support a new bill. "The law remains on our statute books and it will remain there," he said.

Nitschke is also now working on a suicide pill," currently being tested by doctors in Australia, the United States and Canada, and made from products available from chemists or supermarkets, the
pill would put the means for a painless death "within the reach of everyone who wishes to go down that path," Nitschke said. When the pill is available, "then it might be time to hang up the syringe," he quips. "Why are doctors the only people with this power?"