philip haig nitschke (born 8 august 1947) is an australian humanist, writer and former medical doctor. he is the founder and director of the pro-euthanasia group exit international. he supported and campaigned for legal euthanasia in the northern territory. there, he assisted four people ending their lives while it was legal. later, the government of australia made it against the law again. he is the author of the books "killing me softly: voluntary euthanasia and the road to the peaceful pill" (2005) and "the peaceful pill handbook" (2006). he has been called "dr death" by the media.