The Peaceful Pill Handbook

Infobox Book
name = The Peaceful Pill Handbook
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translator =


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author = Philip Nitschke & Fiona Stewart
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language = English
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subject =
genre = Euthanasia
publisher = Exit International US
pub_date = 2007
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pages =
isbn = ISBN 0978878825
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"The Peaceful Pill Handbook" is a controversial book giving instructions on how to perform euthanasia. It was published in 2007 and was written by the Australian doctors Philip Nitschke and Fiona Stewart.

The book describes legal and moral aspects of suicide and euthanasia and provides how-to instructions for several suicide methods. Primary focus of the book is on peaceful (non-violent and painless) suicide methods that can be used by seriously ill and elderly people. To distinguish between suitable and non-suitable methods, Dr. Nitschke introduces the RP (Reliability-Peacefulness) rating. One of the recommended suicide methods involves drinking pentobarbital, a drug that Mexican veterinary drug stores sell (illegally) without prescription. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/21/world/americas/21tijuana.html?fta=y&pagewanted=all In Tijuana, a Market for Death in a Bottle] , "The New York Times", 21 July 2008]

The book was initially banned in Australia and New Zealand since it was deemed to be objectionable. [ [http://www.censorship.govt.nz/news-archive-current-peacefulpill.html Office of Film & Literature Classification] - "The Peaceful Pill Handbook banned"] At the same time, the book was freely sold in other countries, in particular by Amazon.com in the US. Since May 2008 it has been allowed for sale in New Zealand if sealed and an indication of the censorship classification was displayed. [ [http://www.censorship.govt.nz/pdfword/peaceful%20pill%20s38.pdf Office of Film & Literature Classification] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.peacefulpillhandbook.com/ Official "The Peaceful Pill Handbook" website]
* [http://books.google.de/books?id=bNp3cyJImJwC&dq=peaceful+pill+handbook&pg=PP1&ots=JXWYy6bTRq&sig=VPhMXtRQH9wnrcSHj99-YJwuowI&hl=de&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result "The Peaceful Pill Handbook" online at google books]