Woman who requested right to die in france found dead

[jtyangel]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23409835-5012749,00.html

A WOMAN with a rare, painful and disfiguring facial tumour who failed to get court approval for doctor-assisted suicide was found dead yesterday.

Chantal Sebire died at her home in Plombieres-les-Dijon in eastern France.

The cause of her death was not immediately known.

A rare form of cancer had burrowed through her sinuses and nasal cavities, causing her nose to swell to several times its original size, and pushing one of her eye sockets out of her head.

This week a court rejected 52-year-old Ms Sebire's request to be allowed to get a lethal dose of barbiturates under a doctor's supervision.

Ms Sebire had said she did not want to endure more pain as her condition worsened and would find life-terminating drugs through other means.

Image at this link--warning, disturbing photo of facial cancer

http://www.fotografias.net/wp-content/uploads/chantal.jpg


I feel so badly for this woman. Not only dealing with the pain of an incurable form of cancer but having it in a place that likely leaves one feeling isolated from people in their final days. However, on the other hand, people can end their lives without involving the help of others, moral issues aside, she did not need state approval or doctor's assistance to accomplish it. There is some debate while the autopsy is being done that she did indeed end her life on her own in the end anyway.

Still, I do feel a great deal of compassion for this woman. What a horrible path to the end. 

[RightCoast]

Horrifying.

[bijou]

I saw the photo and I hope the poor woman is at peace now. I don't know what I would do in her situation, I'd hope I wouldn't commit suicide (not that we know that she has) but it is difficult to predict how I would react in her situation.

[BEG]

I bet that was excruciatingly painful.  Just having UVeitis was painful enough for me (it felt like I had an abscess in my eye).  It was the worst thing I have ever had happen to me (pain wise).   I don't think I could live with no end in sight with regard to the pain she must of gone through.   

[jtyangel]

I know. I find myself standing by principles on euthanasia, but being overwhelmed with compassion for this woman. I can't imagine how horribly painful that must have been for her both physically and emotionally. I do hope she is resting in peace.

[Ptarmigan]

It's really painful. I am surprised that tumor did not suffocate her. I don't want to imagine what she was going through.