Customer Reviews

The Peaceful Pill Handbook

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the only book of its kind that I've read that is so thoroughly researched. It's a pretty comprehensive study of the various ways there are to end one's life. And each method is rated in many categories including effectiveness, ease of obtaining the required materials, painlessness, etc. Near the end of the book there is a good description of how to obtain the best drug (in Mexico) and includes very helpful pictures of the products. I can seriously see cutting the pictures out and showing them to a clerk in Mexico who might otherwise not be able to figure out what I was looking for (because of language difficulties). However, you pay a stiff price to get this information in paperback form ($35.),there is a lot of scientific "padding" to fill out the pages and that is why I gave it four stars instead of five. However, it is the only game in town at this time as far as I know so I'm glad that I have it in my library in spite of the high cost.

For those who would like to have control of their destiny, this is detailed but frustrating book. The problem is that none of the solutions that could be considered "peaceful" are practical for most people. The primary "peaceful" solution requires going to Mexico to smuggle a life-ending drug into the US. The second best option requires obtaining a prescription for a drug that most doctor's are unwilling to provide. The remaining solutions are anything but peaceful and would cause devastating trauma to any family member who might become involved during or after the end of life event. Hopefully, there are (or will be) other books that better address the issue of death with dignity.

I am only in my 30's and not ready to leave this place just yet(if I can help it). Knowing that I have this book is such peace of mind for me and my boyfriend because should anything happen I want to control MY outcome. The book gives you alternatives on how to end it and gives you the information you need to be able to make sure you don't make mistakes. This is much better than trying something and have it go horribly wrong.
I REALLY THINK EUTHANASIA SHOULD BE LEGAL.

I purchased this book because I have been exploring the options of assisted suicide, and with my extensive knowledge of ethical pharmceuticals in the USA, this book offers hope for the here and now that Sodium Pentobarbital (that was taken off of the USA market in capsule form by Abbott Labs, after many decades of production, is still accessable) in "certain other countries, 4 in particular, worldwide, where it can be obtained, without too many hoops, (at present) if one
wants to take action in procurement of this immmediate release fast acting sedative. I grew up during a time when Nembutal, Seconal, and Tuinal were easily accessable, but this has not been the case in the USA for approximately 35 years....in my humble opinion. It is only available in ampules (vials) and stocked generally in major USA hospitals, and if prescribed, usually is done so, "maybe for someone in Hospice care, and in very sparing amounts, and not for
the purpose that the "Peaceful Pill Handbook" was written for. (the motive I interpreted about the Peaceful Pill Handbook, is for one to be able to decide for themself, just like one dones in having a "living will" notorized, if one
determines that they want to check out of a life of physical or severe psychological misery, in a peaceful, non violent, but very effective way. The
options I have seen that the choice of powerful sedatives in my lifetime, have been radically reduced since the 1960's thru the middle 1980's. It is nearly impossible to get a medical doctor to prescribe a once common fast acting barbitituate, today, and this has been the case for at least 19 to 20 years!!!
Only the capsule "Seconal" distributed formerly by Eli Lilly, but now manufactured by Marathon Pharmaceuticals make a similar drug to Sodium Pentobarbital (Nembutal) and I haven't known anyone with a Rx or seen one of the pills since the middle 1970's. This book gives very detailed information about where to obtain this medication, from veterinary drug sources in some foreign countries, and also offers other medication, and other chemicals and that can be used if one chooses to end their life, and, I am glad I purchased the book with a clear mind, without any immediate pressure, to know about alternative options, especially in foreign countries. My biggest fear, is that the doors may be shut soon on a very effective barbituate, (pentobarbital) worldwide, possibly within a few years, (just my personal opinion). I have seen other effective ethical pharmaceuticals become banned in the USA, and the stigma spreads, and a medicine can be truly eliminated worldwide, including the chemical precursors to make the substance, once a stigma is attached to a effective, but "abusable medication". I know of two very effective medications that were banned in 1984, in the USA, and it was finally banned worldwide in 2006 in Switzerland, the last country to offer a similar powerful, peaceful sedative hypnotic. (methaqualone) and another example is Glutethimide, which was removed from the USA market in 1992, and was finally removed from the last 2 Eastern European countries only in 2006. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to have some hope that in 2010 all hope is not lost, to seek out certain meds that are really gradually headed for extinction. This book also removes some uneasy guily feelings I had in my subconscious mind about making a decision to ends ones life peacefully, rather to suffer in advanced old age, and to be a burden to one's self and to others!
I just hope the options remain in the countries that are identified in this book to obtain Nembutal (Sodium Pentobarbital liquid) and interferene from Law Enforcement does not close another door to a right I believe everyone should have about living or dying.

I only ordered this book when, because of a television programme I became aware that our government had placed a stop on the "Exit" web site.
After reading every page I found it balanced, informative, well written in plain english.

When I ordered the book I had no need for the information it provided.

In the past 3 weeks my husband has been diagnosed with 4thstage cancer that is out of control and will lead to his death within 2 to 3 months. Although we have no intentions of using the information, my husband is relieved to have the knowledge if his journey becomes unbearable. Having the knowledge has given him peace of mind.

It is knowledge that should not be blocked from any adult. Thank you for writing such a worthwhile book. Even knowing the things that we thought would work if needed would not. Has been information that evey sick adult needs.

Revised May 21, 2011
I attempted to implement the "Exit Bag' method of ending my life, and found that a crucial part of the information provided was inaccurate: "With an Exit Bag, a person breathes easily and peacefully..." (4th paragraph Chapter 5). I began growing faint (losing consciousness), but I was short of breath, and the gas inside the bag was quite hot, presumably from my breath. I was so uncomfortable that I pulled the bag off. I attempted the procedure three times, checking the tank pressure first to make sure it was adequate, before giving up. Surprisingly, before using the bag I was neither anxious nor depressed. I just had the thought "Do I really want to do this? It's kind of dumb. But I have decided to."

The equipment was easy to prepare. I found the Balloon Time helium tank at my local Party America store, I purchased from Exit International the flow regulator and the pressure gauge to check the tank, and made an "exit bag" from an oven bag, all according to Peaceful Pill's instructions. To see if I would panic with the bag over my head, I rented a scuba tank and regulator and held the second stage open with the bag over my head--no problem.

But the system didn't work as described. I read in the paper this week that Joseph Brooks successfully used this system using a dry-cleaning bag. The solution may be to use a larger bag and two helium tanks, so that the gas won't heat up as much and the carbon dioxide that builds up in the bag (which causes the feeling of suffocation) will be more diluted.

No doubt the "exit bag" would have worked if I had endured the discomfort. But if I were to try again (no plans at this time) I'd use a gun. Not my first choice, because it would leave a mess, but quick and certain.

This book was interesting to read. I certainly believe that all people have the right to peacefully end their lives at the time of their choosing. Society, by systematically removing all the painless ways to do it, speaks not to a concern or respect for human life, but rather a deeper Christian ethos to inflict punishment and guilt on anyone who dares challenge our culture's paralyzing fear of death. It is a brave thing to write a book about this subject in this day and age.

I think many will purchase this book to find out how to buy Nembutal. It seems that situation changes so quickly however that the book already feels out of date. I would recommend buying the online edition with its frequent updates, though it's strange why they charge so much more for it.

The Peaceful Pill Handbook New Revised International Edition (Paperback)
Philip Nitschke & Fiona Stewart

The version I bought is the e-version which, in addition to the text, has some videos at the ends of chapters. I was skeptical of the videos but in fact they make the book, especially explanations on how to manipulate equipment, clearer and more interesting.

I think the book is well written and very informative. I am more tolerant of information not useful to me than some other reviewers. However, I share their unhappiness that the "peaceful pill" of the title requires a trip to Mexico where a tourist may or may not be able to buy a bottle labeled Nembutal which may or may not contain the drug, and then risk jail by smuggling the drug across a border or borders. We who reside in the world's largest market for illegal narcotics should not have to go far to get a lethal dose of heroin if we are willing to risk arrest and imprisonment and with that we could exit in ecstasy instead of just peacefully. Of course, most Americans would not want to take the risk and don't even even know how to contact a heroin dealer.

The book is gravely deficient in not discussing relatively painless legal methods such as the following three.

1) Alcohol should appeal to those who liked getting drunk on weekends in college. Drinking 3 times as much is lethal.

2) In several and perhaps all U.S. states stores sell shotguns and ammunition with no questions asked.

3) In some countries aspirin is often used in suicide attepts, sometimes successfully. (In the USA aspirin is sold without prescription.)

Things can go wrong using these three methods and much needs to be said about each of them. There may be legal reasons why this book does not discuss them but the authors should at least have told us why they can not discuss them.

In fairness to the book, one of the methods they recommend most, inhaling helium or nitrogen, is entirely legal and sounds as painless as death can be. They favor putting one's head in a plastic bag and regulating the gas flow from a high-pressure cylinder using a nozzle they are selling. In a Jan. 2010 addendum to the online edition they have dismissive comments about using a face mask instead of a bag, although they admit that some of us just don't like putting our head in a bag.

I put together a setup with a face mask and nitrogen storage at 0 gauge pressure in a giant beach ball. (Helium slowly leaks out of such balls.) This arrangement does not require a gas flow regulator; the user's breathing makes the gas flow. It also uses less gas but one has to use large and cumbersome hoses and make one-way valves using plastic bottles and ping-pong balls. An advantage is that one can check, with air instead of nitrogen, that what you inhale comes from the ball and what you exhale does not go there, and one can also see how much gas one needs for 10 or 15 minutes.

A comment about the hazardous transfer of high pressure nitrogen from a rented cylinder into a new LPG cylinder described on pp. 72-73. There is no need to do this. While nitrogen is not sold in disposable containers, refillable steel cylinders full of 20 cu. ft. of nitrogen can be bought for $99 on the internet. They weigh 13 lbs and UPS will carry them.

This book is currently banned in Australia and New Zealand. It has not been in the past and, hopefully, it will resume availability status in the not too distant future. One should be able to determine in this advanced historical part of history, particularly at mature age, to be able to buy and read whatever is relevant to them. Censorship goes too far in this instance. Ignorance is not necessarily bliss! For those that seek answers, this may answer some very important questions for them.

The Peaceful Pill Handbook is useful for those with terminal illness, severe pain and who wish to end their intolerable lives.

Unfortunately, the book is not well written, in fact it has all the earmarks of it being self-published. It appears to be totally unedited with many grammatical and punctuation errors that make its reliability questionable. The authors are Australians and they mainly refer to drugs and equipment available in Australia; information that may be useless anywhere else. The illustrations are very poor, almost embarrassingly so. The use of technical language is annoying but fortunately not common.

Nevertheless, the information provided is useful and even though the writing badly needs editing, the language is clear. The authors provide practical information to help one end his/her life.