Conductor Downes, wife die in Swiss suicide clinic

[thundley4]

LONDON – British maestro Edward Downes, who conducted the BBC Philharmonic and the Royal Opera but struggled in recent years as his hearing and sight failed, has died with his wife at an assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland. He was 85 and she was 74.
The couple's children said Tuesday that the couple died "peacefully and under circumstances of their own choosing" on Friday at a Zurich clinic run by the group Dignitas.
"After 54 happy years together, they decided to end their own lives rather than continue to struggle with serious health problems," said a statement from the couple's son and daughter, Caractacus and Boudicca.
The statement said Downes, who became Sir Edward when he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1991, had become almost blind and increasingly deaf. His wife, a former dancer, choreographer and television producer, had devoted years to working as his assistant. British newspapers reported that she had been diagnosed with cancer.
Dignitas founder Ludwig A. Minelli said he could not confirm the deaths due to confidentiality rules.

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I wouldn't be surprised if something similar is brought to the US after several years of "0BamaCare".

[JohnnyReb]

A two for the price of one sale......A blue light special for DUmmies only.

[Eupher]

I have no problem with this.

And I believe it's well within conservative principles to compel the state to get the **** out of my life.

If I want to off myself because of advanced age, illness, or simply because I want to check out with my spouse, the right to do that lies not with the state, but is a personal matter between me and my God.

[thundley4]

I have no problem with this.

And I believe it's well within conservative principles to compel the state to get the **** out of my life.

If I want to off myself because of advanced age, illness, or simply because I want to check out with my spouse, the right to do that lies not with the state, but is a personal matter between me and my God.

I agree for the most part. Yet, I think that under 0BamaCare, more people may find themselves living with conditions such that they may see suicide as their last hope of relief.  Basically being forced into it by the government.

[vesta111]

I agree for the most part. Yet, I think that under 0BamaCare, more people may find themselves living with conditions such that they may see suicide as their last hope of relief.  Basically being forced into it by the government.

Don 't forget family members that are getting titchie because grandpa is 95 and healthy as a horse----

I forget the name of the Black Widow that was so unfortunate as to have 6 husbands commit suicide in 15 years, all with boodles of life insurance.

We still don't know how David Carradine died---accident, suicide, murder ?

Walk very careful here, sometimes it is a matter of, did she jump or was she pushed.

[Eupher]

Don 't forget family members that are getting titchie because grandpa is 95 and healthy as a horse----

I forget the name of the Black Widow that was so unfortunate as to have 6 husbands commit suicide in 15 years, all with boodles of life insurance.

We still don't know how David Carradine died---accident, suicide, murder ?

Walk very careful here, sometimes it is a matter of, did she jump or was she pushed.

You're always going to find an example of somebody, somewhere, who was violated, taken advantage of, and otherwise hoodwinked out of the right to kill themselves.

Or that somebody did it for them.

The basic argument stands - get the government the hell out of my life. ALL of my life, including the end.

[AllosaursRus]

I dunno, what if papa decides he wants to take wifey with him against her will? How would you know the difference?

[Eupher]

I dunno, what if papa decides he wants to take wifey with him against her will? How would you know the difference?

Hmmm. I think that's where the term "assisted" suicide comes into play. Seems to me at this particular clinic, and others like it, there's a pretty intensive screening/counseling/are-you-sure-you-wanna-do-this? that goes on.

Procedurally, I just don't see how papa, when he's blind and basically infirm, can take wifey with him ANYWHERE, much less against her will.

No, I see this as wifey having concluded that, at the age of 74, she just doesn't want to live without her husband. And I say if that's the choice she makes, and she makes it willingly, who the hell is the government to stand in her way? She simply wants to see her husband whole again, and that is only possible in the afterlife.

Bottom line - this is a very private affair between an elderly married couple, the God of their understanding, and a medical clinic that is licensed in Switzerland to perform this procedure.

We outsiders are not privy to the inner workings of this clinic and what and how many lengths they go to to ensure that this very permanent procedure is the right one for them.

[jtyangel]

Hmmm. I think that's where the term "assisted" suicide comes into play. Seems to me at this particular clinic, and others like it, there's a pretty intensive screening/counseling/are-you-sure-you-wanna-do-this? that goes on.

Procedurally, I just don't see how papa, when he's blind and basically infirm, can take wifey with him ANYWHERE, much less against her will.

No, I see this as wifey having concluded that, at the age of 74, she just doesn't want to live without her husband. And I say if that's the choice she makes, and she makes it willingly, who the hell is the government to stand in her way? She simply wants to see her husband whole again, and that is only possible in the afterlife.

Bottom line - this is a very private affair between an elderly married couple, the God of their understanding, and a medical clinic that is licensed in Switzerland to perform this procedure.

We outsiders are not privy to the inner workings of this clinic and what and how many lengths they go to to ensure that this very permanent procedure is the right one for them.

Actually, it was the other way around in this case. The wife had terminal cancer. Her husband would have survived and she would not have. Despite his fraility, he was not terminally ill. HE actually made the choice to die with his wife, not the other way around. Just a bit of clarification. Did some googling myself yesterday on the couple out of curiousity.

[Eupher]

Actually, it was the other way around in this case. The wife had terminal cancer. Her husband would have survived and she would not have. Despite his fraility, he was not terminally ill. HE actually made the choice to die with his wife, not the other way around. Just a bit of clarification. Did some googling myself yesterday on the couple out of curiousity.

Thanks. The original story made no mention of her illness, just his. And I agree, his afflictions weren't terminal - but he was increasingly frustrated at them.

[jtyangel]

Thanks. The original story made no mention of her illness, just his. And I agree, his afflictions weren't terminal - but he was increasingly frustrated at them.

YW. When I just googled them for curiousity's sake I found out more detailed info. This article does indeed give the impression that the wife was going with the husband when it was she who was more immediately long for this world.

And yes, everything I've read did say exactly as you did: that he seemed eager anyway at 85 and with his ailments to move on from this life. Seems like he may have indeed been hanging in there to remain a companion to his beloved wife and when he knew that was over, he was ready.

Makes you wonder about the writing though doesn't it? I have a feeling they focused on him more because of his noteriety and it twisted up the reality of the situation.

[Eupher]

YW. When I just googled them for curiousity's sake I found out more detailed info. This article does indeed give the impression that the wife was going with the husband when it was she who was more immediately long for this world.

And yes, everything I've read did say exactly as you did: that he seemed eager anyway at 85 and with his ailments to move on from this life. Seems like he may have indeed been hanging in there to remain a companion to his beloved wife and when he knew that was over, he was ready.

Makes you wonder about the writing though doesn't it? I have a feeling they focused on him more because of his noteriety and it twisted up the reality of the situation.

That's one of the problems with our drive-by gimme-a-snapshot style of news absorption -- we have little time to get the whole story. There's no question they focused on him due to his long conducting career. She was almost excess baggage.