‘My life, my death, my choice’

An Albany man, one of three charged across Australia with importing an illegal euthanasia drug, says he will not fight the charge but will continue to advocate for people’s right to die.

Rupert Ward who is scheduled to appear in Albany Magistrate’s Court today, four weeks after being charged after a raid by Albany police acting on information from the Australian Federal Police and Customs.

Mr Ward, who does not have a terminal illness and reports to be of good health, says he imported the drug in December last year so he could have “control” over how his life would end.

In an interview with the Albany Advertiser this week, the 68-year-old said he would plead guilty to the charge before Magistrate Tanya Watt.

Mr Ward is set to be supported by the director of pro-euthanasia group Exit International, Dr Philip Nitschke, who will attend court with him.

Dr Nitschke, who recently ran as a candidate in the Federal Senate election for the Voluntary Euthanasia Party, has accused police of targeting his group’s members across Australia with a series of raids.

Dr Nitschke said Exit members across the country were watching Mr Ward's case closely.

Mr Ward, a member of Exit and the WA Voluntary Euthanasia Society, said his health had been %affected from last month’s raid.

“The stress from the police raid and charges has affected my health, with severe anxiety, loss of appetite and insomnia over three days,” he said.

“I decided to commit the offence of importing (the drug) so that if I did become terminally ill, I could have control over the way my life ended.”

Mr Ward, who has suffered from coeliac disease, an immune system intolerance to gluten, for most of his life, said he still kept active but believed in being prepared for the worst.

“If I was terminally ill and in excruciating pain, I feel that it is my right to embrace a dignified death,” he said.

“Surely, it’s a human right not to be forced to suffer — a peaceful death is everybody’s right.”