Exit News & Forum 23Aug08

Australia & New Zealand

International

Exit Releases & Forum

Welcome to Exit International

XExit International is the pro-choice voluntary euthanasia/ assisted suicide organisation founded by Dr Philip Nitschke.

In 1996, Dr Nitschke became the first doctor in the world to give legal voluntary euthanasia under the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act of the Northern Territory.

Based in Darwin, Exit International operates internationally. Exit was previously known as Exit Australia and the Voluntary Euthanasia Research Foundation.

Exit International is Australia's largest voluntary euthanasia information and advocacy organisation.

An Australian registered non-profit, Exit was founded by Dr Philip Nitschke after the demise of the world's first voluntary euthanasia law - the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act of the Northern Territory in 1997.

Exit International has its administrative office in Darwin in the Northern Territory and a shopfront office at 134 Ayr St Doncaster in Melbourne, Victoria.

Exit is supported by a network of local Chapters in over 25 cities and towns in Australia and New Zealand. Exit was previously known as the Voluntary Euthanasia Research Foundation.

Call to ban 'Killing me Softly'

13 July 2008

In May 2008 40 year old psychiatric patient Erin Berg travelled from her home in West Australia to Tijuana Mexico . She was found unconscious in her hotel room and later died in hospital. Her sisters claimed she had been influenced by Exit and had obtained information about obtaining the euthanasia drug Nembutal by reading the book 'Killing me Softly' by Dr Philip Nitschke & Dr Fiona Stewart. Her sisters have asked the Federal Attorney General to immediately restrict this book.

'Killing me Softly' was published in 2005 by Penguin. It details the philosophical position of Exit that all rational adults should have access to the means of a peaceful death. It is a book that is widely distributed and used as source material in a number of teaching courses on voluntary euthanasia. It is not a ‘how to’ book and provides no details on sourcing euthanasia drugs.

When Ms Berg first made contact with Exit in December 2007, she was assessed as someone we were unable to help because of her age and history of psychiatric illness. Her death is a tragedy but not one that Exit takes responsibility for.

To read the record of contact between Ms Berg and Exit - click HERE

To read the exchange of email between the family of Ms Berg and Exit - click HERE

International interest in Mexican "Peaceful Pill"

26 May 2008

A report in the influential Mexican newspaper Reforma on the issue of elderly people obtaining their "Peaceful Pill" in Mexico has sparked international interest in the work of Exit International.

Terminally ill Don Flounders, 75 and his wife Iris travelled from their home in Victoria, Australia to Mexico in Feb 2008 to obtain Nembutal so that he could have a peaceful death at the time of his choosing. He spoke publically of his journey on return and his house was subsequently raided by Australian Federal police.

His journey was only one of over 200 that have been recorded by Exit International.

In May 2006, Reforma ran a detailed account of the "Mexican Option"

To read the Reforma Report - click HERE

To read the AFP Report - click HERE

Caption: Photo of Don & Iris Flounders from Reforma

NZ Peaceful Pill Handbook approved by Censor

12 May 2008

News that the NZ Chief Censor Bill Hastings has given a R18 classification to the modified Peaceful Pill Handbook has been welcomed by Exit as a victory for commonsense. The original book was denied distribution by the NZ Office of Film and Liteature Classification in 2007. A redacted version with a number of offending pages, paragraphs and diagrams blacked out was provided for reconsideration in Feb 2008.

The book is expected to be in NZ bookshops by the end of May. It will be on sale only to people over the age of 18 and must be sealed with an R18 warning label.

To read the Chief Censor's reasons for his decision - click HERE

Chief NZ Censor Bill Hastings with The Peaceful Pill Handbook

ExitNet features on Australian National TV

Cooperation between Seriously Ill Exit Members Leads to Good Outcomes for Both

3 March 2008

Don and Iris set out to help each other and their friend Angie obtain the drugs necessary for a peaceful and reliable end of life option.

They are all Victorian Exit members and Don and Angie are both seriously ill. Because of this, Don says, he has "nothing to loose."

To see their story see Channel 7 National News, 3rd - 4th March, 2008.

(Above) Don and Iris eating Tacos in Tijuana Mexico to celebrate the successful aquisition of their euthanasia drug, mid Feb 2008.

To view video of Don and Iris Mexican trip - click HERE

To watch Angie explaining why she asked Don to help - click HERE

To view the Federal Police raid on Don and Angie's house - click HERE

Read Don's Views in DON'S DIARY - click HERE

To email Don, click HERE

DIY with Betty: Exit Launches YouTube.com Videos Ahead of New Digital Version of Peaceful Pill Handbook

Doing it with Betty

1 January 2008

The first of 16 instructional video clips on end of life options by Exit International. These clips will be launched in early 2008 and form part of the new On-Line edition of The Peaceful Pill Handbook.

The first four describe the use of helium and the plastic Exit bag.
Eight will be posted on the steps involved in making a Peaceful Pill.
The final four on extending the shelf life of Nembutal.
Some of these clips will also be released to YouTube.com

To read more about the forthcoming e-version of The Peaceful Pill Handbook click HERE or go to www.peacefulpillhandbook.com

To view Doing it with Betty - click HERE or on the YouTube picture.

Attorney General Threatens Exit Workshops

16 October 2007

16 Oct 2007 - Exit Director Dr Philip Nitschke has received a letter from the office of the Attorney General Philip Ruddock claiming that the use of The Peaceful Pill Handbook or the YouTube video The Single Shot is in breach of the law. Details of this have been forwarded to the Victorian Police.

This appears to be a reaction by a Federal government upset by the activities of Exit and the candidacy of Exit Director Philip Nitschke in the forthcoming Federal election where he will challenge the anti euthanasia religious zealot, sitting member Kevin Andrews.

To read the AG's letter and the Exit response – click HERE
To read Greg Barns report for Crikey; click HERE

16 Oct 2007

Exit Director Dr Philip Nitschke has received a letter from the office of the Attorney General Philip Ruddock claiming that the use of The Peaceful Pill Handbook or the YouTube video The Single Shot is in breach of the law. Details of this have been forwarded to the Victorian Police.

This appears to be a reaction by a Federal government upset by the activities of Exit and the candidacy of Exit Director Philip Nitschke in the forthcoming Federal election where he will challenge the anti euthanasia religious zealot, sitting member Kevin Andrews.

To read the AG's letter and the Exit response – click HERE
To read Greg Barns report for Crikey; click HERE

Menzies Campaign ready to Launch

Corflute election signs ready for distribution

16 September 2007

The campaign against Kevin Andrews in his seat of Menzies in Victoria is ready to go. A team of support has been assembled led by campaign director Lindy Boyd.

Generous donations from around Australia has given the project a budget of ~$100,000 which will enable a thorough campaign to be mounted.

Exit Director Dr Philip Nitschke has described the campaign as very exciting.

"This is a chance to give the voters of Menzies a chance to vote for a candidate that represents real choice - Kevin Andrews has been in parliament for over a decade and consistently worked to control and restrict - this is something we intend to change".

To visit Dr Nitschke's Campaign Website click HERE

Corflute election signs ready for distribution

16th Sept, 2007

The campaign against Kevin Andrews in his seat of Menzies in Victoria is ready to go. A team of support has been assembled led by campaign director Lindy Boyd.

Generous donations from around Australia has given the project a budget of ~$100,000 which will enable a thorough campaign to be mounted.

Exit Director Dr Philip Nitschke has described the campaign as very exciting.

"This is a chance to give the voters of Menzies a chance to vote for a candidate that represents real choice - Kevin Andrews has been in parliament for over a decade and consistently worked to control and restrict - this is something we intend to change".

To visit Dr Nitschke's Campaign Website click HERE

Single Shot: Exit Members make progress on the Peaceful Pill

28 August 2007

In July 2007 Exit International members gathered in Queensland to trial the "Single Shot" coffee pot pressure vessel for the manufacture of the euthanasia Peaceful Pill.

The equipment was developed by Exit members in South Australia and uses small quantities of ingredients to make a single Peaceful Pill in a process that takes less than 8 hours and can be carried out in the kitchen.

The video shows the process.

28 Aug, 2007

VE Challenge to Kevin Andrews

Kevin Andrews with leader John Howard

8 July 2007

Exit Director Dr Philip Nitschke will challenge Federal Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews at the next Federal Election.

It is now ten years since Andrews led the campaign to overturn the world's first Voluntary Euthanasia law.

Dr Nitschke will set up a VE campaign office in the seat of Menzies in Doncaster, Victoria.
Campaign manager will be Lindy Boyd who has worked with Dr Nitschke in the previous (1998) campaign against Andrews.

To read about the Challenge; click HERE
To see how you can assist the campaign – click HERE

Kevin Andrews with leader John Howard

8th July, 2007

Exit Director Dr Philip Nitschke will challenge Federal Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews at the next Federal Election.

It is now ten years since Andrews led the campaign to overturn the world's first Voluntary Euthanasia law.

Dr Nitschke will set up a VE campaign office in the seat of Menzies in Doncaster, Victoria.
Campaign manager will be Lindy Boyd who has worked with Dr Nitschke in the previous (1998) campaign against Andrews.

To read about the Challenge; click HERE
To see how you can assist the campaign – click HERE

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