Philip Nitschke’s phone seized by police investigating terminally ill man’s death

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Max Bromson, who ran for the Senate last year for the Voluntary Euthanasia party, died early on Monday morning

Philip Nitschke
Nitschke said Bromson took an imported drug that had been tested at an Exit Internal laboratory in Adelaide. Photograph: David Mariuz/Getty Images

Euthanasia campaigner Philip Nitschke is to speak to South Australian detectives who are investigating the death of a terminally ill man who took his own life.

Former businessman Max Bromson, who ran for the Senate last year for the Voluntary Euthanasia party, died early on Monday morning in a Glenelg motel room, surrounded by family members.

Bromson, who suffered from a rare and terminal form of bone cancer, said he lived with chronic, excruciating pain and wanted the right to end his life peacefully at the appropriate time.

Nitschke said Bromson took an imported drug that had been tested at an Exit Internal laboratory in Adelaide.

Nitschke will be accompanied by his lawyer when he meets with detectives on Friday.

“They have been in touch with me several times and want to have a talk about Max Bromson’s death,” he said.

He said he would be co-operating in every way with the police.

After police were notified of the death, detectives confiscated the family’s mobile phones, tablets and laptop computers. The police are carrying out an investigation to determine whether any criminal offence involving assisting in a suicide was committed.

Last week, Nitschke was suspended by the Medical Board of Australia, which ruled he posed “a serious risk to the health and safety of the public”.

• Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.