TV Suicide Video- Dr Nitschke

TV Suicide Video- Dr Nitschke [Dr Death]

Right to Life deplores the plans of Dr Philip Nitschke [Dr Death] to have screened on television in New Zealand a video promoting suicide. The video has previously been banned for screening in Canada and Australia. It has been classified as objectionable and in breach of broadcasting standards.

It is contended that the 45 second suicide promoting video is in breach of the Advertising Standards Authority Code of Ethics. It is in violation of the first Basic Principle,

“All advertisements should be prepared with a due sense of social responsibility to consumers and to society.”

There are on average about 400 suicides reported each year in New Zealand. It is a major health issue. Suicides have a profound affect on families and whole communities. The screening of Dr Nitschke’s suicide video would be socially irresponsible.

It is in violation of Rule 5, which states that; “Advertisements should not contain anything which clearly offends against generally prevailing community standards taking into account the context, medium, audience and product”

The prevailing community attitude towards suicide is that it is unacceptable behaviour, promotes a culture of death, is contrary to the common good and is destructive of the social fabric.

It is in violation of Rule 7, which states that; Advertisements should not contain anything which lends support to unacceptable violent behaviour.”

Suicide or self murder is in itself the ultimate in violence against oneself, it is unacceptable to the community.

Right to Life fully supports a robust public debate on assisted suicide. New Zealand has previously had a full and robust debate on two “death with dignity bills”, they were both defeated in our Parliament. It would be socially irresponsible for the Commercial Approvals Bureau to give approval for the suicide video to be screened on television in New Zealand. Dr Nitschke is seeking to impose this debate uninvited on New Zealanders in the sanctuary and privacy of their own homes, this is highly objectionable and should be resisted. There is a place for this debate and it is not in the lounges of New Zealanders.

New Zealand has a very high rate of suicide. Our youth suicide rate is tragically one of the highest in the world. It would be socially irresponsible to screen a video that could encourage youth suicide.

It is recognised that one of the major causes of suicide is depression. It is contended that the elderly and those afflicted with severe depression could be encouraged after viewing the video to consider suicide as a solution to their problems.

It would be inconsistent for our state owned TVNZ to be screening a video promoting suicide while the government is spending millions of dollars on its Suicide Prevention Strategy to reduce suicide in New Zealand. The governments Suicide Prevention Strategy is the responsibility of the Minister of Health. Right to Life requests that the Minister, the Honourable Tony Ryall defends the government’s strategy by publicly stating that the government is opposed to the screening of the suicide video on television in New Zealand.

It is contended that the suicide video is in violation of the Crimes Act 1961, section 179 which states, that it is a crime to “incite any person to commit suicide.”

Right to Life requests that the Commercial Approvals Bureau refuses any request for approval from Exit International for the screening of this highly objectionable suicide video on television in New Zealand. In the event that approval is given, Right to Life requests that TVNZ give an assurance to the people of New Zealand that it will not screen this objectionable video.

ENDS

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