A former GP who helped a number of patients to end their lives at Dignitas has announced his plans to launch Britain’s first “suicide group” in Sussex.
Dr Michael Irwin, a vocal euthanasia campaigner, plans to set up the “Die-alogue” group in mid-April this year, which will be the first of its kind in the UK.
Advice
He said that he is hoping members will share advise on euthanasia and the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland, in addition to helping one other to travel abroad to commit suicide.
“The topic of rational suicide should be discussed,” he said.
“I want people to provide one another with financial, moral and emotional support. People could support each other by travelling abroad to the Dignitas clinic.
“Sometimes the person who wants to go to Dignitas has no one to help them. This group would aim to help that.”
Struck off
Dr Irwin, who previously chaired euthanasia lobby group “Dignity in Dying”, was arrested in 2003 after attempting to help a terminally ill friend to commit suicide by supplying him with temazepam tablets .
He was later released without charge, but was struck off the medical register in 2005 following an inquiry by the General Medical Council.
He has since admitted to accompanying four people to Dignitas, whilst helping at least 25 people to commit suicide at the clinic by offering them advice.
Comment
Andrea Williams, CEO of Christian Concern, said: “These proposals will effectively encourage more Britons to travel abroad to end their lives, and are part of a wider agenda to weaken the law on assisted suicide in the UK.
"It is crucial that the current law remains as it is because it provides vital protection against abuse of the most vulernable in society at the hands of relatives and medical practitioners.
"We must do all we can to care compassionately for those who are suffering at the end of their lives, and resist any legislative changes that would permit assisted dying in this country”.
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