Switzerland is the only country that allows “Death Tourism,” by which they mean accepting foreigners to have an assisted death for “none selfish” reasons and the approval of two doctors. First the traveller has to join an expensive death society, of which Dignitas is the most famous. (The novelist Ian MacEwan admitted to me in an interview that his satirical novel Amsterdam should have been called Zurich.) in Canada we have strict protocols all of which have been argued successfully in the courts before being passed into law. There are still some exceptions including intractable mental illness, which is the subject of a legal challenge which has not yet been given a court date. That is a violation of the charter of Rights and Freedoms in my view and one which should be addressed before any consideration of a completed life. Meanwhile the rich can go to Switzerland if they chose and if they qualify under that country’s rules. Sandra Martin, author of A Good Death.
So Phillip. It’s spring in Nova Scotia and as I’m sure you know that means endurance…..ice water rain, gloomy skies with the odd tease of a sunny warm day. And now you’re asking me this? All I can say is ask his partner and children. Who am I to question his decision? And now I’m going to tuck that question away and get up from the couch and make bread cuz our daughter is visiting today.
We can't say he rushed into death. At ninety, with failing kidneys, he opted to exit with his faculties intact. Seems a highly reasonable choice.
It should be our choice.
Having to pay an enormous sum? No.
Switzerland is the only country that allows “Death Tourism,” by which they mean accepting foreigners to have an assisted death for “none selfish” reasons and the approval of two doctors. First the traveller has to join an expensive death society, of which Dignitas is the most famous. (The novelist Ian MacEwan admitted to me in an interview that his satirical novel Amsterdam should have been called Zurich.) in Canada we have strict protocols all of which have been argued successfully in the courts before being passed into law. There are still some exceptions including intractable mental illness, which is the subject of a legal challenge which has not yet been given a court date. That is a violation of the charter of Rights and Freedoms in my view and one which should be addressed before any consideration of a completed life. Meanwhile the rich can go to Switzerland if they chose and if they qualify under that country’s rules. Sandra Martin, author of A Good Death.
So Phillip. It’s spring in Nova Scotia and as I’m sure you know that means endurance…..ice water rain, gloomy skies with the odd tease of a sunny warm day. And now you’re asking me this? All I can say is ask his partner and children. Who am I to question his decision? And now I’m going to tuck that question away and get up from the couch and make bread cuz our daughter is visiting today.