A BOOK that gives detailed advice on suicide, including a recipe for cyanide and tips for getting away with euthanasia, has been cleared for publication in Australia.

The first run of the book by euthanasia advocate Philip Nitschke was confiscated by Customs as a prohibited import.

But Dr Nitschke has now ordered a print run in Australia after the Office of Film and Literature Classification’s board voted on Monday to allow the book to be sold in book stores wrapped in plastic as a category-one publication only for those over 18.

The book, called The Peaceful Pill Handbook, offers advice and suicide tips, describing in detail a variety of suicide methods.

Approval of the book has been condemned as promoting suicide as a viable choice not just for the sick and elderly but also for troubled adolescents.

Co-written by Dr Nitschke and Fiona Stewart, the book describes how to clean up after a suicide and remove evidence.

Dr Nitschke had the first 45 copies of the book printed in the US but they were seized at Brisbane airport under Customs regulations that make documents that instruct in or incite suicide prohibited imports.

“Clearly, the federal Government wants to have them destroyed,” Dr Nitschke said. “We’re very happy the umpire has said they are OK.”

He said he now planned for the book to be in stores by next month.

“We won’t make the Christmas rush,” he said.

A spokesman for Justice Minister Chris Ellison said the books were seized according to laws which came into effect in September 2002 that prohibited “absolutely” devices designed to be used to assist suicide and documents that instruct in or promote their use.

Customs also seized 69 pamphlets in Brisbane but returned them after they were assessed as not meeting the criteria of prohibited imports.

“The goods were not concealed,” the spokesman said.

The decision to allow the book to be sold under the category-one classification was made despite objections of some board members who believed it should be banned under the anti-suicide-promotion laws.

Lecturer in law at the University of Western Sydney Katrina George last night condemned the publication of The Peaceful Pill Handbook as offering the elderly, sick and vulnerable very poor choices.

“It provides ready access to suicide methods,” she said.

“It is a sad day when the best we can offer the sick and suffering is a do-it-yourself suicide manual. A truly compassionate strategy would provide improved access to and understanding of palliative care and expanded psychiatric services.”