e-Deliverance A Peaceful Death is Everybody’s Right August Exit International 2008 Exit Laboratory Arrives After more than 18 months in the pipeline, Exit Exit’s testing program will provide members with has taken delivery of the long-awaited laboratory peace of mind, knowing the exact nature of the equipment. Known in the scientific community pills they have at home in the cupboard. as Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectroscopy To ensure that the Lab equipment, this impor- operates lawfully, Exit tant purchase will allow is currently obtaining a Exit to provide a new legal evaluation, on this range of services to Exit aspect of its operation. members, in Australia This is important because and around the world. of the expected role the equipment will play in the At the centre of Exit’s assay of products made laboratory program will by members involved in be the ability to test the Peaceful Pill project. members’ outdated prescription drugs. In the past, many Exit members were prescribed barbiturate Exit members who may wish to have their old sleeping pills. These members are now wonder- prescription drugs tested should write, in the first ing whether these pills that have long passed their instance, to the Darwin office. Exit expects the expiry date have degraded. equipment to be fully operational by October. Exit Profile inNew York Times On Monday 21 July, a significant article about Exit International appeared in the New York Times and the San Francisco Chronicle. Titled ‘In Tijuana - a Market for Death in a Bottle’ the article focused on the experiences of Exit members and the role of The Peaceful Pill Handbook in the sourcing of Nembutal in Mexico. The article was sympathetic of Exit’s aims and treated the subject material with respect and insight. As a result of the exposure, sales of The Tijuana donkey outside vet shop - photo: NYT Peaceful Pill Handbook have soared both on This Edition <www.Amazon.com> and through direct sales at • Exit Laboratory Arrives - Page 1 <www.PeacefulPill.com>. • Exit Profile in ‘New York Times’ - Page 1 • Dementia, VE & the Law Conference - Page 2 This is the first time an • Exit Director Speaks at AMSA Conference - Page 2 • DIY with Betty Features on BBC TV - Page 2 Australian VE or- • VE Matters Conference Report - Page 5 ganisation has received • Peaceful Pill Handbook Survives 3rd Injunction - Page 5 international press of • Dunedin Public Meeting & Workshop - Page 5 this magnitude. We • Meeting & Workshop Dates 2008 - Page 5 • Dutch Radio attends Exit Melbourne Workshop - Page 5 are proud to welcome • Exit Planning Weekend Held in Melbourne - Page 5 the new members from • ‘Who is the Planner?’ by Jasmine Lawrence - Page 5 around the world that • Exit Chapter Dates - August 2008 - Page 6 have joined as a result. • Exit Donation + Exit Shop Order Form - Page 7 Dementia, VE & the Law Conference On Monday 22 September 2008, Exit International Aileen Sisson called ‘The Consultation.’ Exit has will hold a one day conference at the Holiday Inn organised a discount hotel rate at the newly reno- Kings Cross titled ‘Dementia, Voluntary Euthana- vated Chifley Potts Point Hotel (directly opposite sia and the Law.’ Holiday Inn) in Victoria St. The conference marks the start The Chifley is offering Exit con- of global Dementia Awareness ference attendees the special rates Week (and Bob Dent Day 2008) of: standard double room - $119 and will feature speakers from without breakfast or $136.50 with a range of professions including breakfast. Double deluxe rooms medicine, ethics and the law. - $129 without breakfast, and $146.50 with breakfast. We will also be joined by the Gold Coast Exit thea- tre troop led by retired Opera singer Jill Kleinman. Contact the Chifley Hotel on 1300 650 464 and The troop will perform an original short play by mention you are with Exit to get the special rate. ‘Peaceful Pill Handbook’ Exit Director Addresses Hits Amazon Best Seller List Australian Medical Students & Association (AMSA) ‘DIY Betty’ Debuts on BBC Annual Conference On 21 July following a prominent article in the On Friday 11 July, Exit Director Dr Philip New York Times, sales of the Peaceful Pill Hand- Nitschke, joined the Victorian Health Services book at the online bookstore Amazon.com soared, Commissioner Beth Wilson and Associate Pro- seeing the Handbook ranked 66th bestselling book fessor Lynn Gillam of the Centre for Health and amid the 2.5 million-plus titles stocked by the Society at the University of Melbourne on a panel world’s largest online bookstore. discussing Voluntary Euthanasia at the annual Australian Also in July, Medical the Do it Students Yourself with Association Betty video (AMSA) with retired conference in nurse edu- Melbourne. cator Betty Peters was With an featured on audience in Philip Nitschke with Beth Wilson & Lynn Gillam BBC TV. As ‘Betty’ becomes the most watched excess of 1000 medical students, the hour-long video on voluntary euthanasia on the video web- session covered the ethical, legal and activist site YouTube.com, parts of this mini-documentary aspects of the VE debate. Exit would like to thank were used in a BBC film about a Scottish MP with the convenor Justin Yousef and AMSA President Parkinson’s Disease titled - ‘Margo Macdonald Michael Bonning for their invitation and the op- - My Right to Die’. portunity to explain the Exit position. Exit to Hold London * Sydney Billets Needed * Workshop On Sunday 21 September, Exit is holding a planning day in Sydney for all our State Chapter Exit will be holding its first UK workshop in Lon- Coordinators. To keep costs down, we are call- don on Monday 13 October. Watch the September ing for billets with Sydney members for 21/22 edition of Deliverance for venue details. While September. In exchange, all billeters will receive in the UK, Exit Director Philip Nitschke will be a FREE registrations for the Dementia, VE & the guest lecturer at the School of Medicine & Den- Law Conference. Please call Amanda on 1300 10 tistry at Queens University, Belfast NI. 3948 to volunteer your spare room. 2. ‘Voluntary Euthanasia Matters’ Conference Held on a day described by the NZ Met Service as from different parts of the the ‘worst storm of the century’, Exit’s first New country. Participants trav- Zealand conference at the Hotel So in Christch- elled from around NZ to urch proved well worth the battle for those who attend and the conference attended. also provided the ideal opportunity to legally With speakers including Professor Grant Gillet launch the NZ edition of from the University of Otago, Bridget Ross from the Peaceful Pill Hand- Kensington Swan lawyers and Angelika Elli- book. Exit would like to ott, participants not only had the chance to hear thank the Hotel So who, discussion on a range of VE-related issues but despite pressure from also welcomed the opportunity to meet members Right to Life NZ, held Lawyer Bridget Ross from Kensington Swan steadfast to their commit- ment to host the conference. Their hotel proved a great venue. Dunedin Public Meeting & Workshop On Sunday 6 July, Exit enjoyed a warm welcome in Dunedin thanks largely to the tireless efforts of Exit’s Dunedin Chapter Coordinator, Paula Westo- by. Exit’s public meeting was held at Cargills Hotel Philip Nitschke & Conference speaker Murray McLaughlin (ABC (after the Kingsgate Hotel withdrew as the venue TV) brave the snow in Christchurch CBD during the lunch break for fear of protest). ‘Peaceful Pill Handbook’ Around 50 people attended the public meeting with Survives 3 Injunctions from over half staying on for the workshop. The only downside of the day was an anonymous complaint Right to Life NZ made to the Department of Internal Affairs about Not content with having been granted leave to ap- the screening of ‘DIY with Betty.’ Kensington peal the decision of the NZ Chief Censor which al- Swan are now handling the matter on Exit’s behalf. lowed the Peaceful Pill Handbook to be published (in altered format) in New Zealand, Right to Life New Zealand, together with a group called the So- ciety for the Promotion of Community Standards, have launched three consecutive applications for interim injunctions to prevent the sale of the book in NZ bookstores. In defending Exit against what can only be de- scribed as vexatious litigation, Kensington Swan lawyers (representing Exit), have mounted three separate counter-applica- tions, all of which have Paula Westoby with Philip Nitschke in Dunedin proven successful. Contact Us Exit International The Peaceful Pill Hand- PO Box 37781 Darwin NT 0821 Australia book is on sale in book- 1300 10 3948 (EXIT) or Melb Office 03 9850 8192 shops in New Zealand. [email protected] The appeal against its Donate to Exit publication is due to be Exit relies on donations to fund its meetings/ heard in Wellington on 25 workshops, private visits and R&D programs August. Please give generously. 3. Sept-Dec 08 Workshop Dates September November (cont) Gosford - Saturday 27 Sept: 1 - 4pm Wollongong - Thursday 27 Nov: 10am - 1pm (Kincumber & District Neighbourhood Ctr) (Venue tbc) Canberra - Saturday 29 Nov: 1 - 4pm October (Griffin Centre) London - Monday 13 Oct: 10am - 1pm (Venue tbc) December Perth - Thurs 11 Dec: 1 - 4pm November (Citiplace Community Centre) Forster - Monday 10 Nov: 1 - 4pm Perth - Sat 13 Dec: 1 - 4pm (Tuncurry Bowling Club, Tuncurry) (Citiplace Community Centre) Lismore - Thursday 13 Nov: 1 - 4pm Melbourne - Mon 15 Dec: 10am - 1pm (Lismore Turf Club) (Templestowe Memorial Hall Gold Coast - Friday 14 Nov: 1 - 4pm - followed by end of year lunch) (Albert Waterways Community Centre) Warrnambool - Tues 16 Dec: 9am - 12 noon Sunshine Coast - Monday 17 Nov: 1 - 4pm (Archie Graham Centre, Warrnambool) (Venue tbc) Adelaide - Fri 19 Dec: 10am - 1pm Toowoomba - Thursday 20 Nov: 10am - 1pm (Fullarton Community Centre, Fullarton (Jacaranda Room Grand Central Shopping Ctr) - followed by end of year lunch) Sydney - Wednesday 25 Nov: 10am - 1pm (Rex Community Centre, 58a Macleay St To book call Amanda on 1300 10 3948.