DEATH GRIP:

Live Free, Die Free: The Final Exit Network, a right-to-die organization, battles government euthanasia accusations. (Adam Case, 8/31/09, In These Times)

The GBI alleges that four Final Exit volunteers not only provided suicide-related information to John Celmer of Cummings, Ga., but assisted in his death. After Celmer’s death, the state began a sting operation.

An undercover agent contacted the group and identified himself as a patient with pancreatic cancer. According to an affidavit given by the agent, two volunteers held Celmer’s hand as he breathed in helium from a tank with a hood cinched tightly over his head, causing death by asphyxiation. “This would have prevented John Celmer the ability to pull off the hood had he changed his mind about dying,” the affadavit states.

Final Exit Network denies the charge. “Anybody who wants to take off the bag can take off the bag. We are holding a person’s hand out of compassion only, so they are in touch with another human being when they die,” says Jerry Dincin, president of the Final Exit Network. “It’s more like holding the hand of a child in a very nice way.”

While you murder them.

Posted by Orrin Judd at August 31, 2009 8:58 AM