Euthanasia advocate Max Bromson. Picture: Supplied

THE ABC has come under fire for showing the final moments of Max Bromson’s life as the euthanasia advocate took a fatal dose of an illegal drug.

After two years the tape of Max Bromson’s last moments has finally been made public as the family has been cleared of any wrong doing. The vision was shown on ABC’s 7.30 program.

But Immigration Minister Peter Dutton accused the ABC of being “taken over” by political activists reported The Australian.

Max Bromson pictured towards the end of his life after a five-year battle with terminal cancer. Picture: SuppliedSource:News Corp Australia

­Former prime minister Tony ­Abbott also criticised the media organisation saying they had engaged in “death voyeurism”.

“Surely not even the ABC is so irresponsible, I am simply ­appalled,” Mr Abbott told The Australian last night.

“Regardless of where you stand on the issue, there have to be standards of reporting. This is death voyeurism, not journalism.”

Neil Mitchell also slammed the ABC for airing the vision saying it was disgraceful.

“I strongly support voluntary euthanasia, but this was a blatant and irresponsible piece of attention-seeking by the ABC,” the 3AW Mornings host said.

“I doubt they’ll answer to it. I’ve invited them on the program.

“But they usually don’t answer to criticism – they’re above that.

“What they did was wrong.

“It was self-serving, self-indulgent journalism.”

Conservative Tasmanian senator Eric Abetz said it was a ­“matter of regret” that the national broadcaster was “portraying suicide in such a light which ­undermines the community’s ­efforts to value every life.”

Max Bromson taking the illegal euthanasia drug, Nembutal. Picture: ABC 7.30Source:ABC

But others, including those from within the ABC, supported the program.

CONTROVERSIAL FINAL MOMENTS

Bromson, an euthanasia advocate, chose to voluntarily end his life on July 28, 2014 at the age of 67. His health had been deteriorating due to an ongoing battle with bone cancer.

For two years his family, who were present in the room when he took his last breath, lived in fear of criminal prosecution while the police investigated his death.

“At about one o’clock in the morning, he said, ‘We need to go. We need to go now’,” his sister Kerry Bromson said.

As the family gathered in a small hotel room and watched him die they filmed the death to protect themselves.

“The reason we filmed it was probably more for legal reasons, to show that we had nothing to do in assisting him. That it was his choice,” she said.

Max Bromson is comforted by a family member after he falls unconscious. Picture: ABC 7.30Source:ABC

“I think we were naive. I think we all went in quite blind. We were doing it out of love for our brother, their father.”

Bromson, a passionate and outspoken supporter of voluntary euthanasia, was determined to end his life on his terms.

He went to Philip Nitschke’s euthanasia advocacy group, Exit International, and Bromson secretly arranged to obtain the illegal euthanasia drug, Nembutal.

His family said they have no idea how he obtained the drug as he never discussed the details with them.

“He never told us a lot regarding what he’d done or how he’d done it. We just knew that when the time was right that he had a choice,” Kerry said.

After Bromson’s death police raided Nitschke’s office and seized the family’s phones, computers and the vision of his final moments.

Bromson pictured before being diagnosed with terminal cancer. Picture: Mark BrakeSource:News Corp Australia

Max Bromson pictured in healthier and happier times. Picture: SuppliedSource:News Limited

Finally the family were cleared by police but a coroner’s investigation is still expected.

“I don’t blame the police for that. I don’t blame the legal system for what it is. I actually blame our politicians because nobody is standing up for the rights of the individual in this situation,” she said.

“It’s about the fact that now we want some reform. We want there to be a right for people to take a choice and not have to go through what we went through as a family.”

TWO EUTHANASIA BILLS BEFORE SA PARLIAMENT

Two bills now sit before the South Australian parliament seeking to introduce voluntary euthanasia after a day of political manoeuvring to keep hopes for the new laws alive.

The latest bid for change was launched on Thursday with the 15th bill since 1995 put before the lower house by advocate and Liberal MP Duncan McFetridge.

His legislation was adjourned for debate in November when it could be moved to the committee stage for further consideration.

Soon after the 14th bill, which had been in the parliament since February, was adjourned until December 1, the last day of sittings for 2016, effectively killing off any chance of it going any further.

Dr Phillip Nitschke leaving an Adelaide police station in 2014 with his lawyer Michael Woods after questioning over the suicide of Max Bromson. Picture: Mark BrakeSource:News Corp Australia

But that was not before some of its strongest critics tried to force a vote on the floor, seeking to have it defeated.

Liberal MP Stephan Knoll told the house he would never vote for voluntary euthanasia.

Mr Knoll said he “loved life” and thanked God every night for his time on earth. He said if just one life was taken prematurely as a result of voluntary euthanasia laws, he would feel responsible.

Another Liberal MP David Speirs described the legislation as a “slippery slope” with any measures introduced likely to be expanded.

But Dr McFetridge said his Choices and Dignity at the End of Life bill had embraced previous concerns from many MPs, making voluntary euthanasia only available to people with a terminal illness whose suffering had become intolerable.

It also provided for seven clear steps before voluntary euthanasia would become available and barred people with a disability or mental illness from seeking euthanasia on those grounds.

“This is a choice that is wanted by those few people for whom palliative care does not work,” Dr McFetridge said.

“Let’s give those people the democratic right to make the decision about how they leave this life.”

Labor MP Steph Key, who introduced the 14th bill in February, said the new measures had tightened the eligibility and assessment processes. “We have continued to consult widely on the proposed voluntary euthanasia laws and this new Bill will encompass all the checks and safeguards sought by our colleagues,” she said.

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

Australian readers seeking support and information about depression can contact the Depression Helpline (from 8am to midnight) on 0800 111 757.