The BBC report the suicide and background of Canadian Adam Maier-Clayton who took his life in April 2017, aged 27, following a history of psychiatric illness including a condition that left him in extreme pain. His illness was diagnosed as Somatic Symptom Disorder, “a psychiatric condition characterised by physical complaints that aren't faked but can't [...]
MDMD could hardly ignore a recent article in the political weekly The Spectator. Its author, Jessica Berens, attended one of Dr Philip Nitschke’s ‘£50 suicide workshops’, along with '80 or so men and women, grey-haired and crepe-soled’ who break for tea after Dr Nitschke has described and demonstrated various DIY techniques ‘in much the same manner that [...]
The Sunday Times today published an article on the end of life plans of MDMD founder Dr Michael Irwin. (The organisation he founded was the Society for Old Age Rational Suicide, SOARS, which democratically chose to change its name to My Death, My Decision in 2016.) In the article Dr Irwin explains how, when he [...]
MDMD bids farewell to one of the pioneers in the battle to legalise assisted suicide in the UK. Lord Joffe of Liddington, who died on 18 June 2017 at his home, age 85, fought for terminally ill people to be given the right to die. He was a front runner in the House of Lords [...]
Canada legalised a limited form of assisted dying in 2016. A long article in the New York Times gives a detailed and inspiring account of John Shields who died by lethal injection in British Columbia. He suffered from an incurable condition, amyloidosis, which gave him increasing pain that he no longer wished to endure. The [...]
The Mail on Sunday published a story about MDMD supporter Alex Pandolfo who suffers from Alzheimer's and is planning to end his life at Lifecircle in Switzerland. It is a significant article as Alex is explaining his reasons before he ends his life. He mentions one of his difficulties as being the timing of when [...]
The BBC and the Guardian report the particularly tragic story of 95 year old Denver Beddows who admitted battering his 88-year-old wife Olive with a pan and a hammer at their home in Warrington. Mrs Beddows survived the attempted murder. Mr Beddows received a two year suspended sentence. Apparently Mrs Beddows had pleaded with her [...]
The Scottish Sun reports the case of Colin Campbell. Colin suffers from the Primary Progressive form of MS. He intends to go to Lifecircle in Basle to end his life on 15th June while he still can. He told MDMD "I qualify everything I say with 'intend' as my health could fail totally at any [...]
Dementia is now the leading cause of death in England and Wales. How can we ensure we don't suffer from it for longer than we wish? Medically Assisted Suicide is one option chosen by a few. In the UK those choosing this option need to arrange appropriate help in Switzerland, as it is not legal [...]
Today a new legal case to challenge the law on assisted dying is seeking financial backing. Please can you help! The law firm Bindmans are representing 'Omid' who was diagnosed with the incurable illness, Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), in 2014. He is now largely confined to bed, has to wear a catheter bag and needs [...]