Nembutal was first used for lawful, voluntary euthanasia in Australia in 1996 under the Northern Territory’s Rights of the Terminally Ill Act.

In 1996-97, Dr Philip Nitschke administered Nembutal (using the ‘Deliverance Machine‘) to four of his terminally ill patients, to allow them to have a peaceful and reliable death.

Since this time Nembutal has been used in most countries where euthanasia, assisted suicide, voluntary assisted dying (VAD) or medical aid in dying (MAID) is legal including: the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, the US, Canada and the Australian state of Victoria.

Nembutal can be administered intravenously or taken as a small, bitter-tasting drink.