A pro-euthanasia television advertisement commissioned by Australian activist Dr Philip Nitschke was pulled two days before it was due to go to air because the commercial TV industry feared it would breach broadcast regulations.

The Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice states “material that will invariably be unsuitable for television” includes “Suicide: Realistic depiction of methods of suicide, or promotion or encouragement of suicide.”

Dr Nitschke argues that the advertisement does not promote suicide. "It shows a person that is simply reflecting on the fact he's had choices all his life and now the important choice is effectively denied him," he said. "He says he's made his choice, he just wants the Government to listen so it doesn't give any specifics about how a person could end their life."

Dr Nitschke has also commissioned pro-euthanasia billboards but these are now under threat as well. ~ ABC, Sept 13; Mumbrella, Sept 12;