SAVES is not affiliated with Exit International / Dr Philip Nitschke and opposes the public availability of a 'peaceful pill'.

Voluntary euthanasia and assistance with suicide are illegal throughout Australia. Suicide itself is not. There is a common-law right to refuse medical treatment, even life sustaining treatment, and this has been strengthened and clarified in South Australia by the Consent to Medical Treatment and Palliative Care Act, 1995. Further information on this Act is available in SAVES Facts Sheets 1, 5 and 8 and also in the SAVES Kit, "Making an Advance Directive for Health Care South Australia". (Contact SAVES, PO Box 2151, Kent Town, SA 5071. Ph. (08) 8379 3421. A pamphlet and brochure on the Act is also available from the South Australian Government at Information SA, 77 Grenfell St, Adelaide, SA 5000. Ph. (08) 8204 1900.)

The continued prohibition of voluntary euthanasia in medical practice has led to a persistent demand for information on how best to end one's life, or, in the voluntary euthanasia context, to achieve "self-deliverance". Why Self Deliverance ? Self-deliverance by the hopelessly ill is the rational face of suicide. Where sound reasons for the action exist, the term is more appropriate than suicide because it refers to a rational decision that the quality of life is no longer acceptable to the person concerned and there is no reasonable prospect of improvement. Although suicide includes such actions it also includes, and is more commonly associated with, irrational decisions made when judgement is impaired.

Self-deliverance information now available includes written guides, videos and medical information clinics. Self-Deliverance Guides These were pioneered by the Voluntary Euthanasia Society of Scotland (VESS), renamed "Exit" in 2000. Their booklet, "How to Die with Dignity" was published in 1980, and was followed by others in various languages in other parts of the world. Here are six publications likely to be of interest to Australian readers:

1. Final Exit: The Practicalities of Self-Deliverance and Assisted Suicide for the Dying. 1991, 1997. Derek Humphry. The Hemlock Society. pp 222. The Australian edition (1992) is out of print but should be available through second hand bookshops.
2. Supplement to How to Die with Dignity. 1993. C.G.Docker, C.K. Smith (eds). Voluntary Euthanasia Society of Scotland. pp 68.

 

 
 
 

Publication 2 was reprinted by Last Rights Publications, the publishing arm of the Right to Die Society of Canada, as "Departing Drugs: an international guidebook for self-deliverance". It is available only to those over 21 who have been members of a right-to-die society for at least three months. SAVES will provide this certification on request to SAVES members meeting these requirements.

Publications 1 and 2 provide considerable information on possible means of self-deliverance. Both point out the need for caution and responsibility in taking such a step. Most people wanting a comprehensive guide to self-deliverance on their bookshelves are likely to find either "Final Exit" or "Departing Drugs" adequate. Note, however, that SAVES has been advised that while careful planning will minimise risks, there is no method that can guarantee a quick and peaceful death in the absence of medical supervision.

3. Beyond Final Exit: New Research in Self-Deliverance for the Terminally ill. 1995. C.K. Smith, C.G. Docker, J. Hofsess, B. Dunn. Last Rights Publications. pp 115. (Out of print.)
4. Supplement to Final Exit: The Latest How-To and Why of Euthanasia/Hastened Death. Aug. 2000 Derek Humphry. ERGO! Paperback, pp 70.
5. The Art & Science of Suicide. 1998. Last Rights Publications. This publication is available in 9 separate chapters. It breaks new ground by recognising that the upsurge in research on self-deliverance techniques can outdate some aspects of earlier publications. Individual chapters, updated as warranted by new research, are available as separate publications.

 

 
 
 

Publications 3, 4 and 5 may be of interest to those wanting additional information. Caution should be exercised in considering the newer options, however, since further research may be needed to establish their reliability.

6. Self-deliverance from an end-stage terminal illness by use of a plastic bag. 1993. Derek Humphry. Pamphlet, pp 4, A4 size.

• The Final Choice: considerations on choosing to die, Joseph O'Reilly (Ed.) Liberty Victoria, 1998. pp 56. Copies are available free from the Victorian AIDS Council, 6 Claremont St, South Yarra, Vic. 3141. Ph. (03) 9865 6700

The foregoing video is applicable to conditions in the USA. A video applicable to conditions in Australia is under development by the Voluntary Euthanasia Research Foundation (VERF), modelled on their Information Workshops (see under Information Clinics below).

Last Rights Publications offers an explicitly detailed video (PAL format, 40 minutes), "New Technology for Self-Deliverance", intended for mature individuals seeking practical information on self-deliverance. Information Clinics Dr Phillip Nitschke established a series of Voluntary Euthanasia Information Clinics (VEIC's) in Australia early in 1999. Through this world-first initiative, many Australians gained access to sound information about available methods and drugs that are commonly used by terminally ill people planning to end their lives. Obtaining this information can be extremely difficult because many doctors will not answer requests for information from patients for fear of contravening legislation that specifically prevents advising, counselling or assisting persons to commit suicide. Without satisfactory answers to these questions many ill Australians have taken desperate measures to end their suffering, often with horrific consequences. The clinics are free with funding provided by donations from supporters of legalising voluntary euthanasia.

The clinics have been held in the capital cities of all the Australian states and complaints have been lodged to some of the state medical boards. No action has so far been taken against Dr Nitschke.

Towards the end of 2000, Dr Nitschke pioneered the development of Information Workshops for those not sick, but wanting to be prepared. The Workshops have proved most popular and are now a regular feature of his Australia-wide program. The formation of support groups of people prepared to be with someone who self-delivers (a flow-on from the clinics) is also under way. Further Information including Price and Availability It is always worth inquiring whether local libraries have any of the foregoing products on their shelves or would be prepared to order them in. The latest information on such matters as availability, price, conditions of sale, new products, new programs, etc may be obtained from source organisations set out below. Members of voluntary euthanasia organiations should provide membership details since special conditions or concessions may apply, e.g., Last Rights Publications offer their InfoPak at a rate $5 AUS (normally $5 US) to members of SAVES.