British TV Will Show Man's Death at Swiss Euthanasia Clinic, Family Not Charged

Life News ^ | 12/9/08 | Steven Ertelt

[wagglebee]

London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A national controversy in Britain has been sparked by news that a British television show will reveal footage of 59-year-old Craig Ewert taking his life at a euthanasia clinic in Switzerland. Meanwhile, Ewert's family will escape any charges in connection with his death despite the UK's law against assisted suicide.

Ewert had motor neurone disease, known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's syndrome in the United States.

The footage shows him putting his ventilator on a timer, taking a lethal cocktail and dying minutes later.

Ewert's suicide at the Dignitas clinic was filmed for a documentary called Right To Die - The Suicide Tourist that will be shown on the Sky Real Lives channel Wednesday night.

In the video Ewert says, "I am tired of the disease but I am not tired of living. I still enjoy life enough that I would like to continue but the thing is that I really cannot."

This will be the first occasion on which a suicide has been shown on British television.

Wesley J. Smith, a leading American bioethicist says Ewert's comments and others show that he is suffering from depression that should have been treated rather than resorting to suicide.

"Clearly, this was a suicide caused by depression and despair--and fear of the future," he said. "I wonder if he or his family consulted with hospice professionals who could have assured him that he wouldn't have to suffer terribly unable to cry out."

John Beyer director of Mediawatch UK, told the Daily Mail newspaper he worries the program will promote euthanasia and violate British law.

"If this program is not impartial and promotes euthanasia then it would be in breach of the act - in short it must not influence members of the public or a change in the law," he said.

Ewert paid Dignitas a few thousand dollars for the suicide, cremation and shipping his ashes back to the UK.

[Gondring]

It’s OK to kill someone if it’s called *euthanasia* [...]

The radical pro-life press is about the only news source less reliable than the MSM. It's sad for those who should be understanding the proscription of bearing false witness (though, admittedly, not all are Judeo-Christian) to seemingly revel in the deception and mischaracterizations they so often push.

The fact is, this was not euthanasia, either voluntary or involuntary. That's just a propaganda term to mislead people.

In fact, there's no "clinic," per se...the group (Dignitas) had to rent an apartment, since these cases are so rare (unlike what the scare tactics try to imply to unwary readers).

[CougarGA7]

But are there financing options?

[He Rides A White Horse]

In the video Ewert says, "I am tired of the disease but I am not tired of living.

Freeze right there.

This person is obviously showing conflicting feelings about the matter.

There was a time when depression was the FIRST THING doctors treated when a patient was suicidal.

I agree. Suicide is not a front line defense with regards to medical practice.

[He Rides A White Horse]

Sounds like he was very confused and conflicted.

I could be wrong, but I wonder how much wealth he had to spread around after his death? Insurance that some didn't feel like waiting for? Perhaps he was egged on?

I would like to see the numbers.