Book excerpt: The use of plastic bags in combination with sleeping pills for self-determined dying is a method that has been known and used for a long time, but has fallen somewhat into oblivion due to the increasing popularity of the so-called helium method. The method "plastic bag and sleeping pills" is comparatively easy to carry out and does not require much effort to obtain the necessary equipment. Nevertheless, there are frequent reports of failed attempts and sometimes incorrect reports regarding the way it works. There are some details which are of great importance for a successful implementation. This publication provides a comprehensive description of the underlying principle and shows which points should be remembered for the success of self-determined dying with the "plastic bag and sleeping pills" method.