Video: British TV Documentary Right To Die - The Suicide Tourist To Air Craig Ewert’s Assisted Suicide

Craig Ewert, 59, is a retired university professor and father of two who decided to end his life after a neurological disease began to wear away at his body. He, along with wife Mary, enlisted the help of a Swiss assisted suicide clinic called “Dignitas.” His struggle — and subsequent death by taking a lethal dose of sedatives — will be featured in a documentary titled Right To Die - The Suicide Tourist. Explained Ewert of his decision:

‘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.

‘If I opt for life then that is choosing to be tortured rather than end this journey and start the next one. I cannot take the risk.

‘Let’s face it, when you’re completely paralysed and cannot talk how do you let somebody know you are suffering? This could be a complete and utter hell.

‘You can watch only so much of yourself drain away before you look at what is left and say “This is an empty shell.”

‘Once I become completely paralysed then I am nothing more than a living tomb that takes in nutrients through a tube in the stomach - it’s painful.’

The documentary has inspired much controversy in Britain and debate as to whether showing the program will influence the general public into supporting euthanasia - a hot political topic in England. John Beyer of MediaWatch UK says:

‘If this programme 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.’

Our own interest in the documentary tends to veer more towards the discussion of how and whether footage of Mr. Ewert’s death serves as exploitation of a serious and politically sensitive issues for the sake of ratings and revenue. Is it possible for someone have a hand in their own exploitation? Does this argument pale in comparison to offering viewers a glimpse into one family’s personal experience with euthanasia?

Below, you can check out a (somewhat lengthy) report about Right To Die - The Suicide Tourist, including clips from the documentary itself:

The documentary comes on the heels of news that the parents of 23-year-old rugby player Daniel James, also a patient at the Dignitas clinic, will not face charges for aiding in his suicide.

Said Keir Starmer,Director of Public Prosecutions:

“This is a tragic case involving as it does the death of a young man in difficult and unique circumstances. While there are public interest factors in favour of prosecution, not least of which is the seriousness of this offence, I have determined that these are outweighed by the public interest factors that say that a prosecution is not needed.

“I would point to the fact that Daniel, as a fiercely independent young man, was not influenced by his parents to take his own life and the evidence indicates he did so despite their imploring him not to. I send my condolences to Daniel’s family and friends.”

Daniel had been paralyzed from the chest down as a result of a rugby injury but was expected to regain movement in his fingers with the aid of therapy.

Man’s death to be shown on TV [The Sun]
Parents of rugby player in Dignitas assisted suicide will not face charges [Telegraph]