Exit International’s Right to Die Philosophy

At Exit we believe that every adult of sound mind should have access to the option of a good death, at a time of their choosing. Not only people who are terminally ill.

A good death requires sound & considered decision-making.

Informed decision-making depends upon access to the best end-of-life information.

The Peaceful Pill eHandbook – Essentials edition provides this information.

Sydney assisted dying rally 2005

Workshops & Webinars

During the pandemic, Exit International held monthly online Snippet Workshops based on The Peaceful Pill eHandbook – Essentials.

A total of 10 workshops were held. Recordings of these workshops (Snippets) are available on subscription to  PPeH Subscribers and free for Exit Members.

In 2023, face-2-face Exit workshops returned.

Online Webinars will return in the second half of 2023.

Are our Books for you?

Access to reliable, end-of-life information is critical to being able to make informed decisions about one’s life & death.

Some readers will want this information in the context of palliative care.

Others will see an end of life plan as an ‘insurance policy’ for the future.

A well-considered ‘right to die’ plan is an important part of overall life-planning (for instance like an Advance Directive).

Most importantly, while many people hope they will never need to use this information, most of us want to know that we have a choice, just in case.

What does the Law Say about the Right to Die?

The law says that ending one’s life after careful consideration & in the context of serious illness or advanced old age is not a crime.

However, asking a loved one to help you is against the law. In other words, helping can attract harsh penalties in some countries.

Therefore, it makes sense to plan ahead.

Who Inspired Us?

As authors, Philip Nitschke and Fiona Stewart acknowledge the pioneering work of Dr Jack Kevorkian and Derek Humphry (author of Final Exit) and the late Dutch Supreme Court Judge, Huib Drion.

Final Exit was the first book to treat euthanasia or ‘self-deliverance’ as a civil right. To clarify, Final Exit provided information that enabled readers to plan ahead.

Together, these activists have written much of the history of the voluntary assisted dying movement.

The Peaceful Pill Handbook  was first published in 2006.

The book was banned in Australia on appeal by the Federal Attorney General, Philip Ruddock, the following year.

The Peaceful Pill Handbook is freely available outside of Australia.

The Peaceful Pill Handbook is published in German, Dutch, French, Italian & Spanish.

Exit International Workshop, West Australia