Swiss suicide clinic Dignitas probed after ‘patient suffering from paranoid schizophrenia was given suicide kit’
Euthanasia is something I intuitively, morally, spiritually and ethically abhor, even given the seemingly persuasive arguments in its favour.
If you want to know why, then the below would certainly form part of the reason:
Swiss suicide clinic Dignitas is under investigation over claims that it ignored a patient’s distressed mental condition to give him drugs to end his own life.
Strict assisted suicide laws in Switzerland state that each patient must be of sound mind and able to understand the consequences of their actions.
But now details have emerged of a patient who was allegedly given a DIY suicide kit prescribed by a Zurich gynaeologist despite suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.
The founder of the Swiss assisted suicide clinic Dignitas was criticised yesterday after revealing plans to help a healthy woman to die alongside her terminally ill husband.
Ludwig Minelli described suicide as a “marvellous opportunity” that should not be restricted to the terminally ill or people with severe disabilities. Critics said that the plans highlighted the risks of proposals to legalise assisted suicides in Britain for people in the final stages of a terminal illness.
The Dignitas clinic in Zurich claims to have assisted in the deaths of more than 100 Britons. The Zurich University Clinic found that more than a fifth of people who had died at Dignitas did not have a terminal condition.
Mr Minelli said that anyone who has “mental capacity” should be allowed to have an assisted suicide, claiming that it would save money for the NHS.
THE remains of up to 50 Britons who ended their lives at a controversial Swiss suicide clinic have been dumped in a lake, according to a nurse who worked at the organisation.
Several patients had made it clear to Dignitas that they wanted their ashes to be buried alongside relatives in Britain, but instead they were allegedly dropped into Lake Zurich in order to cut costs.
Nice. I really don’t want to see this in the UK.
Anyway, in view of the way I feel and the ongoing debate surrounding euthanasia, I will draw your attention to a website called:
The Charter
‘RESISTANCE’ CHARTER 2010: Protecting the lives of disabled & terminally ill people
Disabled and terminally ill people fear that calls to legalise assisted suicide and euthanasia are likely to intensify. Our concerns are heightened by the current economic climate and calls from politicians from all parties for cuts in public services.
We, and our families, rely upon such services to live with dignity. Quality services make the difference between a fruitful life, led independently, and mere survival. We face a bleak situation as calls for assisted suicide to be lawful are renewed, whilst vital services are being withdrawn or denied.
Against this background, Not Dead Yet UK is asking all MPs to reassure disabled and terminally ill people by signing up to our Charter.
‘RESISTANCE’ CHARTER 2010
1. Disabled and terminally ill people deserve and are entitled to the same protection in law as everyone else.
2. I value the lives of all disabled and terminally ill people and the contributions they make to society.
3. I will seek opportunities to ensure disabled and terminally ill people in my constituency have access to the health, social care and other services they need to live with dignity.
4. I believe that disabled and terminally ill people seeking assistance to end their lives should receive the same support provided to any other person with suicidal thoughts and be encouraged to live.
5. I will support palliative care and independent living services in my constituency and work with those seeking to ensure they are available to all who would benefit from them.
6. I am willing to meet with disabled and terminally ill people in my constituency who are fearful of any change in the law on assisted suicide and to take account of their views.
7. I will seek to maintain the legal protection offered by the current law, which is that assisted suicide is illegal.
Tags: Science & Medical