The Peaceful Pill Handbook banned

The Office of Film and Literature Classification has classified the book The Peaceful Pill Handbook as objectionable, meaning that it is banned in New Zealand.

The Office said the publication is a well-intentioned book that advocates law reform and gives advice to enable the seriously ill and elderly “to make carefully considered and fully informed decisions about their own life, and death.

”The book argues that the law should be changed to permit seriously ill and elderly people access to pentobarbital, a drug the authors consider to be the most dignified and peaceful means of suicide.

Parts of the book go beyond advocacy of law reform and describe how to get away with committing crime, thereby promoting or encouraging criminal acts contrary to the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act. These parts of the book instruct in how to smuggle and manufacture Class C controlled drugs, how to manufacture and use cyanide, and how to conceal one’s involvement with the commission of a suicide.

Chief Censor Bill Hastings said “it is not illegal to commit suicide or to offer instruction that falls short of counselling, inciting, aiding or abetting. However, the book’s promotion and encouragement of criminal activities in the pursuit of a peaceful and dignified death increases the likelihood that those crimes will be committed by some readers.”

“If the book did not contain text that promoted and encouraged the commission and concealment of criminal acts, it would likely not have been banned,” said Hastings.

Copies of the classification decision are available from the Office’s website www.censorship.govt.nz.

ENDS

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