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Euthanasia Doctor Commits Suicide after Finding Patient He Killed Was Not Terminally Ill
LifeSite ^ | November 21, 2005 | Terry Vanderheyden

Posted on 11/21/2005 3:49:01 PM PST by NYer

ZURICH, November 21, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A doctor acting for the Swiss euthanasia group, Dignitas, has committed suicide after learning that a German woman he euthanized was not terminally ill. Dignitas is under investigation after news of the woman's death.

The 69-year-old woman contacted Dignitas with a medical report stating she had terminal liver cirrhosis; an autopsy conducted later in Germany revealed the woman was in good health other than depression, and that the medical report was falsified. The woman, whose name was withheld, allegedly convinced her German GP to falsify the report so that she could get sick leave from work.

Her doctor in Augsburg said he was unaware that the woman was going to use his false report to persuade Dignitas to euthanize her. Augsburg's senior public prosecutor, Hans-Juergen Kolb, said an investigation against the GP and the dead Swiss doctor had been initiated.

"We are co-operating with the Swiss authorities," said Kolb, according to the UK's Times on Line. "Post mortem reports have already shown that she was not suffering from irreversible liver damage, and if we find that her mental health was in doubt the charges could be more serious."

Dignitas' founder, Ludwig Minelli, defended the clinic: "The doctor's report that I was given indicated the woman was suffering from cirrhosis of the liver as well as hepatitis. And in any case every person in Europe has the right to choose to die, even if they are not terminally ill."

Responsible for the killing of 453 people since its launch by Minelli in Zurich in 1998, the assisted-suicide group expanded into Germany with an office in Hanover last month, in the hopes of advancing the euthanasia cause in that country.

Regional justice minister for Lower Saxony, Elisabeth Heister-Neumann, charged Minelli with being financially motivated. "Making poisonous cocktails available has deviated into pure business, and medical reports are being misused as an excuse," she emphasized.

Minelli told the UK's Telegraph last year that Dignitas would gladly assist anyone to die, "irrespective of medical condition. It does not matter what people are suffering from, we do not refuse anyone."

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Swiss Lure Suicide Victims: Euthanasia Administered Within 24 Hours
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/may/04052509.html
Swiss Euthanasia-Providing Group Branches Out to Germany
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/oct/05100506.html




TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Germany; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bioethics; euthanasia; irony; moralabsolutes; suicide; switzerland
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To: 2ndMostConservativeBrdMember; afraidfortherepublic; Alas; al_c; american colleen; annalex; ...


41 posted on 11/21/2005 9:29:01 PM PST by Coleus (Roe v. Wade and Endangered Species Act both passed in 1973, Murder Babies/save trees, birds, algae)
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To: NYer
Dignitas' founder, Ludwig Minelli, defended the clinic: "The doctor's report that I was given indicated the woman was suffering from cirrhosis of the liver as well as hepatitis. And in any case every person in Europe has the right to choose to die, even if they are not terminally ill."

Pleased to meet you/ Hope you guessed my name.

42 posted on 11/22/2005 4:32:38 AM PST by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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To: strategofr
Who does that to help a person miss work?

Why would a chiropractor be involved in an insurance scam?

43 posted on 11/22/2005 4:33:55 AM PST by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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To: NYer

Can there by a better statement about this ugly practice?


44 posted on 11/22/2005 5:03:28 AM PST by jmaroneps37 (We will never murtha to the terrorists. Bring home the troops means bring home the war.)
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To: TheSarce
Pinged from Terri November Dailies

8mm

45 posted on 11/22/2005 5:46:08 AM PST by 8mmMauser (Jesu ufam tobie..Jesus I trust in Thee)
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To: NYer; 8mmMauser

A euthanasia dude with a conscience? And exacting their own punishment by their suicide. When is the movie coming out? I think mass exposure for these instances aids the movement against euthanasia which is supposed to be illegal in the United States. The loopholes are what kill people along with secrecy (a/k/a "privacy rights".)


46 posted on 11/22/2005 5:58:59 AM PST by floriduh voter (www.conservative-spirit.org)
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To: Buck W.
A euthenasia group? It's that specialized?

Yes. Has been for a long time. It's more specialized than that even. There are euthanasia doctors, euthanasia lawyers, etc. It's big business. And they're making a killing.

47 posted on 11/22/2005 7:26:39 AM PST by BykrBayb (Impeach Judge Greer - In memory of Terri <strike>Schiavo</strike> Schindler - www.terrisfight.org)
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To: floriduh voter

If the abortion doctors all killed themselves out of remorse, would that be considered a hate crime?


48 posted on 11/22/2005 7:35:04 AM PST by EternalVigilance
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To: NYer
Responsible for the killing of 453 people since its launch by Minelli in Zurich in 1998, the assisted-suicide group expanded into Germany with an office in Hanover last month, in the hopes of advancing the euthanasia cause in that country.

It just strikes me as bizarre that Germany would accept this type of thing, given their history of prior "misuse" of the concept.

49 posted on 11/22/2005 7:49:17 AM PST by workerbee (A person's a person no matter how small.)
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To: NYer

"Minelli told the UK's Telegraph last year that Dignitas would gladly assist anyone to die, "irrespective of medical condition. It does not matter what people are suffering from, we do not refuse anyone.""

Dignitas, a branch of alQaeda.


50 posted on 11/22/2005 8:04:38 AM PST by freema (Proud MARINE Mom)
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To: Buck W.

What's all this I keep hearing about a Swiss Youth in Asia Group?


51 posted on 11/22/2005 8:06:30 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: Aquinasfan

" Why would a chiropractor be involved in an insurance scam?"

Good point.


52 posted on 11/22/2005 8:15:35 AM PST by strategofr (The secret of happiness is freedom. And the secret of freedom is courage.---Thucydities)
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To: NYer
Minelli told the UK's Telegraph last year that Dignitas would gladly assist anyone to die, "irrespective of medical condition. It does not matter what people are suffering from, we do not refuse anyone."

I'm sure it's been said before, but it is suprpising how often what passes for "enlightenment" in the modern world results in more reasons to die or to kill someone.

53 posted on 11/22/2005 9:18:32 AM PST by Dunstan McShane
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To: NYer

bump.


54 posted on 11/22/2005 10:50:09 AM PST by cyn
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To: NYer; Coleus

A mercy killing?


55 posted on 11/22/2005 11:20:52 AM PST by Irish_Thatcherite (~~~A vote for Bertie Ahern is a vote for Gerry Adams!~~~)
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To: EternalVigilance
What a question you have there. I don't know of any abortion docs who have killed themselves. I have heard of abortion docs and nurses who quit at some point in time - they reached a breaking point.

U crossed my mind today. I was going to tell you that things are going fine.

South Dakota: I was thinking about how even tho Harry Reid is icky, he's not as icky as Tom Daschle was and how that was a real victory to defeat Daschle. Did they put Tommy's step stool in the Smithsonian?

56 posted on 11/22/2005 3:40:46 PM PST by floriduh voter (www.conservative-spirit.org)
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To: Dajjal

Has homicide been ruled out? You know, some suicides are really just hits. Maybe the doc knew too much and this patient wasn't the only one who was force exited. The death care systems will kill anyone if it serves their needs and preserves the group.


57 posted on 11/22/2005 3:44:25 PM PST by floriduh voter (www.conservative-spirit.org)
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To: 8mmMauser; All
FYI: Florida is a euthanasia state but under the guise of the rule of law. Euthanasia is ILLEGAL in Florida but judicial homicide is legal.

www.judgegeorgegreer.com

58 posted on 11/22/2005 3:45:56 PM PST by floriduh voter (www.conservative-spirit.org)
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To: madprof98
every person in Europe has the right to choose to die, even if they are not terminally ill."

I know it's a long shot, but I'm guessing that if her accurately diagnosed depression would have been properly treated, she might not have elected to die?

59 posted on 11/22/2005 5:35:58 PM PST by PeoplesRepublicOfWashington (Dream Ticket: Cheney/Rice '08)
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