MP to Launch Banned Euthanasia Book

South Australian Democrats MP, Hon Sandra Kanck, will launch Dr Philip Nitschke’s controversial new Peaceful Pill Handbook at the 10th Anniversary Conference of the NT’s Rights of the Terminally Ill Act in Sydney on Friday (22 September).

Following its international launch by Final Exit author, Derek Humphry, at last week’s meeting of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies in Toronto Canada, inspection copies of The Peaceful Pill Handbook were to be made available at the Exit conference.

However, on Tuesday this week a case of 45 books was seized by Australian Customs at Brisbane Airport on the basis of incitement to suicide. On Wednesday a decision was made by authorities in Canberra that the book be withheld, pending appeal.

According to Exit Director Dr Philip Nitschke the seizing of the books goes to the heart of Australians’ right to free speech, and the right of people who are elderly and/ or terminally ill to accurate and reliable end-of-life information.

“In countries like the USA, Canada and New Zealand, the banning of such books is unheard of. I mean we’re not talking here about international terrorism. We’re simply talking of adult Australians right to read what they want about topics that is of great importance to them.”

“We long suspected this book would need to be published in America where free speech is protected by the US Constitution. The seizure of our books this week makes me fear for the country we have become” said Dr Nitschke in Sydney today.

While Exit acknowledges that some people may feel apprehensive about making suicide information available in book form, Philip Nitschke cites a US example of why such fear is unwarranted.

“When the first ‘self-deliverance’ book was published by Derek Humphry in 1991, it was on the New York Times best-seller list for some 17 weeks. Every since, pro-life groups have attempted to establish a link between books that detail peaceful ways of dying, and increases in the suicide rate. Despite the rhetoric, no correlation has ever been found.”

According to Exit International the first print run is already almost sold out. The book is due to be reprinted in the US in October.

Hon Sandra Kanck MP will launch The Peaceful Pill Handbook at 10.30am.

Information: Fiona Stewart 0417 398 401 / 0407 189339 [email protected] Conference Venue: Dougherty Community Ctr, 7 Victor St Chatswood 21st Sept 06

Politicians Show Bipartisan Support at Conference on Euthanasia Law

Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone (Lib), together with Hon Dr Carmen Lawrence (ALP), Senator Lyn Allison (Dems) and Senator Bob Brown (Greens) are expected to call for a revisiting of Voluntary Euthanasia Law at a conference in Sydney on Friday 22 September* 2006.

The historic 10th anniversary “Remembering ROTI” (Rights of the Terminally Ill Act) Conference is a jointly sponsored initiative of Exit International and the Voluntary Euthanasia Society of New South Wales.

‘Remembering ROTI” Conference highlights include:

• Keynote presentations by Minister Amanda Vanstone, Hon Dr Carmen Lawrence, Senator Lyn Allison and Senator Bob Brown (all of whom voted against the Kevin Andrews Bill in the Australian Parliament in 1997) • Keynote addresses by Mr Marshall Perron (Former Chief Minister of NT, Dr Marion Maddox (God Under Howard), Hon Sandra Kanck and Dr Philip Nitschke • Panel discussion with family members of people who used the ROTI Act. • Lunchtime street march in Chatswood by ~200 mainly elderly conference delegates (1.30pm) • Launch of ‘Condolence Books’ which will be filled with messages and delivered to politicians in Canberra on 26 March 2007 (which marks the 10th anniversary of the Kevin Andrews Bill and the overturning of the world’s first VE law in the Northern Territory).

* On 22 September 1996, Darwin man Bob Dent became the first person to use the Northern Territory’s Rights of the Terminally Ill Act. Suffering from prostate cancer, Bob Dent thereby became the first person in the world to receive a legal, lethal, voluntary injection.

Further information: Fiona Stewart 0417 398 401 or 0407 189 339 Conference Venue: Dougherty Community Ctr, 7 Victor St Chatswood 21st Sept 06