in 1996, the world's first euthanasia legislation, the rights of the terminally ill act 1996, was passed in the northern territory of australia. four patients died through assisted suicide under the act, using a device designed by dr philip nitschke. the legislation was overturned by australia’s federal parliament in 1997. in response to the overturning of the act, nitschke founded exit international. in 2009, an australian quadriplegic was granted the right to refuse sustenance and be allowed to die. the supreme court of western australia ruled that it was up to christian rossiter, aged 49, to decide if he was to continue to receive medical care (tube feeding) and that his carers had to abide by his wishes. chief justice wayne martin also stipulated that his carers, brightwater care, would not be held criminally responsible for following his instructions. rossiter died on 21 september 2009 following a chest infection.