You go in as you were and come out in an Urn-- Dignitas

I used a quote from the program "Choosing To Die" as the title of this entry. The program was hosted by Sir Terry Pratchett and he was discussing Assisted Suicide with 3 gentlemen who considered visiting Dignitas.

Sir Terry Pratchett was saying things didn't seem right. And then he said..."You go in as you were and come out in an urn."

Terry was talking to Peter Smedley and Peter's wife about Dignitas. Peter had been diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease and felt he would need to go soon or he wouldn't be able to.

But he decided he would wait until he was in Switzerland before choosing whether or not to seek assisted Suicide. By waiting to make the decision he protected his wife from prosecution in the UK.

If he chose to wait to visit Dignitas he might have been unable to travel or his breathing and swallowing might have been affected, which would of made assisted Suicide impossible.  Peter chose to go ahead and end his life at the Blue Oasis , 20 miles from Zurich. If Peter could of died at home, he might have decided to wait longer. He could have enjoyed his life longer with his family. Suicide is legal in the UK but assisted Suicide is not. Those assisting a suicide is subject to 14 years imprisonment.

He was afraid to wait because MND is so unpredictable but the end result is the same. Some progress faster in the matter of months. Others might take years. Drs and Neurologists can't predict which muscles will go first and when breathing is affected. When the ability to swallow is gone is another uncertainty.

In order to have assisted Suicide from Dignitas you must be able to communicate your wish to end your life and drink the Nembutal yourself.

So sometimes people are forced to go sooner than needed.