Gold Coast suicide pact trio members of ‘Dr Death’ pro-euthanasia group – 9news.com.au

The three women who took their own lives in an apparent suicide pact in a Gold Coast unit were part of controversial euthanasia advocate Dr Philip Nitsches group Exit International.

Mother Margaret Cummins, 78, and her daughters Wynette and Heather, aged 53 and 54, were found dead in a unit on Ephraim Island on Tuesday afternoon.

Dr Nitschke released a statement today confirming the trio were members of the pro-euthanasia group, and had subscribed to the online Peaceful Pill eHandbook.

He said the triple suicide pact was unusual but the "planning and research by the women that took place over a number of months indicated that this was a rational decision".

He told AAP he did not personally know the women but confirmed they had joined his Exit International group.

"It was a bit over six months ago," he said from Amsterdam.

"They were not terminally ill people but on the other hand, they were not in the best of health either.

"They were obviously working out what they wanted to do."

Dr Nitschke said three members had never ended their lives at the same time before.

But the man known as 'Dr Death' said it appeared to be a "rational and informed choice" and their decision to end their lives because of their health problems was a matter only for them.

"It needs to be respected, it doesn't mean you need to be enthusiastic about it," he said.

9news.com.au has approached Dr Nitschke for further comment.

A Gold Coast man returned to the luxury residential estate of Ephraim Island at Paradise Point on Tuesday to find his wife, mother-in-law and sister-in-law dead.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Procter told News Corp Australia the husband was shaken, but not completely surprised.

It's believed all three had medical problems and police aren't treating the deaths as suspicious.

Neighbours have expressed sadness over the deaths in the upmarket residential community is joined to the mainland by a bridge.

Ephraim Island is an artificial island developed in the mid-200s as a resort and holiday destination.

Rental villas and holiday homes in the area can cost more than $1500 a week, while many other holiday-goers prefer to tie up luxury yachts in the marina.

Euthanasia is illegal in Australia, although Dr Nitschke led a successful campaign to allow assisted suicide in the Northern Territory in 1996.

Four people committed suicide through the laws provisions before it was overturned by the Federal Parliament in 1997.

Dr Nitschke founded Exit International following the ban.

In 2014 he was suspended from practising medicine, but this was overturned in 2015.

The Medical Board of Australia nonetheless prohibited him from providing information about euthanasia as part of his conditional return to practice.

In response, Dr Nitschke publicly burned his medical certificate and moved to Holland, where he currently resides.

*Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

*Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.

*MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78.

*Multicultural Mental Health Australia http://www.mmha.org.au.

Nine Digital Pty Ltd 2017

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Gold Coast suicide pact trio members of 'Dr Death' pro-euthanasia group - 9news.com.au