Suicide Handbook
February 16th 2007 15:48
AN ADELAIDE printing company is rushing to print and distribute new copies of suicide handbook The Peaceful Pill, in case it is banned.
A decision from the Classification Review Board is imminent, following a referral from Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock on the basis that the book is already a banned import.
Author Philip Nitschke flew into New Zealand on Friday and was detained at Auckland Airport for more than than hour by NZ Customs officials searching for documents and books outlining methods of suicide.
Dr Nitschke flew across the Tasman to a storm of controversy as he prepared to launch The Peaceful Pill and hold a series of seminars on voluntary euthanasia.
The NZ Health Ministry has put a group of eight New Zealanders on notice that it will seize the suicide drug nembutal if Dr Nitschke continues his plans to take the group to Mexico to buy the barbiturate.
Mr Ruddock's office would not comment on the book until the review is complete but, in his statement announcing the referral, he described the issue as "important". The move has led to a flurry of interest, after a national morning television program debated the issue.
"We're getting calls from bookshops all around Australia, because people believe the book is about to be banned," Dr Nitschke said from NZ yesterday.
A hearing was held by the Classification Review Board on Wednesday, when arguments were mounted by the Federal Government, the Right to Life Association and civil libertarians.
"The general theme of the Crown's case is this book encourages you to break the law, encourages you to go to Mexico or make your own nembutal. It doesn't," Dr Nitschke said.
"I would say it's a responsible guide to end-of-life options, but they (critics) like to describe it as a dangerous book."
Among those critics is Family First Senator Steve Fielding, who used the Senate this week to call for Dr Nitschke to be deregistered for his "dangerous and irresponsible behaviour".
"That means making sure suicide promoters like Philip Nitschke do not have a chance to incite vulnerable people to suicide," he said.
"His book should not be allowed to threaten the lives of vulnerable Australians."
Dr Nitschke says about 1000 copies of the book have been printed in Australia.
It has sold out in Adelaide.
The Peaceful Pill handbook was originally printed in the US and 45 copies were seized by Customs officials at Brisbane airport last year, when Dr Nitschke attempted to bring them into Australia.
The Classification Review Board subsequently determined the books printed in Australia would be classified Category 1 – Restricted – which means it must be sold in a brown wrapper to adults.
A decision from the Classification Review Board is imminent, following a referral from Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock on the basis that the book is already a banned import.
Author Philip Nitschke flew into New Zealand on Friday and was detained at Auckland Airport for more than than hour by NZ Customs officials searching for documents and books outlining methods of suicide.
Dr Nitschke flew across the Tasman to a storm of controversy as he prepared to launch The Peaceful Pill and hold a series of seminars on voluntary euthanasia.
The NZ Health Ministry has put a group of eight New Zealanders on notice that it will seize the suicide drug nembutal if Dr Nitschke continues his plans to take the group to Mexico to buy the barbiturate.
Mr Ruddock's office would not comment on the book until the review is complete but, in his statement announcing the referral, he described the issue as "important". The move has led to a flurry of interest, after a national morning television program debated the issue.
"We're getting calls from bookshops all around Australia, because people believe the book is about to be banned," Dr Nitschke said from NZ yesterday.
A hearing was held by the Classification Review Board on Wednesday, when arguments were mounted by the Federal Government, the Right to Life Association and civil libertarians.
"The general theme of the Crown's case is this book encourages you to break the law, encourages you to go to Mexico or make your own nembutal. It doesn't," Dr Nitschke said.
"I would say it's a responsible guide to end-of-life options, but they (critics) like to describe it as a dangerous book."
Among those critics is Family First Senator Steve Fielding, who used the Senate this week to call for Dr Nitschke to be deregistered for his "dangerous and irresponsible behaviour".
"That means making sure suicide promoters like Philip Nitschke do not have a chance to incite vulnerable people to suicide," he said.
"His book should not be allowed to threaten the lives of vulnerable Australians."
Dr Nitschke says about 1000 copies of the book have been printed in Australia.
It has sold out in Adelaide.
The Peaceful Pill handbook was originally printed in the US and 45 copies were seized by Customs officials at Brisbane airport last year, when Dr Nitschke attempted to bring them into Australia.
The Classification Review Board subsequently determined the books printed in Australia would be classified Category 1 – Restricted – which means it must be sold in a brown wrapper to adults.
Why buy the book when there's ASBS?
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Comment by David
It's very encouraging news that the book has sold out in Adelaide ... That's a few more morons and Bogans I won't have to put up with while I'm living here ... *
David ...
Comment by Damo
News papers and tv limit the number of reports because it has been shown to increase the number of sypathetic suicides. Many of the arguments that Dr Nitschke have promoted were centred around a hypothetical dying patient. The most famous case he was involved in was Nancy Crick who was in no way terminal.
The most likely result of this book will be to encourage the mentally ill to take their lives rather than seek help. The families of suicides are always left with guilt and confusion as to why someone saw death as better that seeking help.
Unfortunatly Dr Nitschke has been intentionally vague about whether healthy people should commit suicide.