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Wife defends suicide documentary Wife defends suicide documentary
(about 9 hours later)
The wife of a former professor who killed himself has defended a television programme showing his death. The wife of a man whose assisted suicide was shown on television has defended a programme about his death.
Motor neurone disease sufferer Craig Ewert, 59, from Harrogate, N Yorks, died in Switzerland, having been helped by the controversial charity Dignitas. Motor neurone disease sufferer Craig Ewert, 59, from Harrogate, died in Switzerland, having been helped by the controversial charity Dignitas.
Mary Ewert told the Independent newspaper the documentary would help people "face their fears" about death. The Sky TV programme about Mr Ewert has been branded a "reality TV" stunt.
Broadcaster Sky said it was "an articulate and educated insight into decisions some people have to make". But Mary Ewert told the Independent newspaper it would help people "face their fears" about death. Sky has also defended the programme.
American father-of-two Mr Ewert died in September 2006 after drinking a mixture of sedatives and using his teeth to turn off his ventilator.American father-of-two Mr Ewert died in September 2006 after drinking a mixture of sedatives and using his teeth to turn off his ventilator.
He had allowed his death to be filmed for a documentary, Right to Die?, by Oscar-winning director John Zaritsky. The former academic allowed his death to be filmed for a documentary, Right to Die?, made by Oscar-winning director John Zaritsky, which is due to be shown on Sky Real Lives later.
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His film shows Mr Ewert outlining his options as "death, or suffering and death".His film shows Mr Ewert outlining his options as "death, or suffering and death".
Before his death, Mr Ewert said: "I'd like to continue. Allowing the cameras to film his last moments in Zurich was about facing the end honestly Mary Ewert Before his death, Mr Ewert said: "I'd like to continue.
"The thing is that I really can't."The thing is that I really can't.
"When you are completely paralysed, can't talk, can't walk, can't move your eyes, how do you let someone know that you are suffering?""When you are completely paralysed, can't talk, can't walk, can't move your eyes, how do you let someone know that you are suffering?"
In a letter he wrote to his two adult children, who feature in the programme, he said: "This is a journey I must make.In a letter he wrote to his two adult children, who feature in the programme, he said: "This is a journey I must make.
"At the same time I hope this is not the cause of major distress to my dear sweet wife, who will have the greatest loss, as we have been together for 37 years in the greatest intimacy." "At the same time I hope this is not the cause of major distress to my dear, sweet wife, who will have the greatest loss, as we have been together for 37 years in the greatest intimacy."
Writing in the Independent, Mrs Ewert said: "For Craig, my husband, allowing the cameras to film his last moments in Zurich was about facing the end honestly. Dr Peter Saunders, director of the campaign group Care Not Killing, said the show was a "cynical attempt to boost television ratings".
"There is a growing appetite from the British public for increasingly bizarre, reality shows," he said.
"It's a slippery slope. The danger is that we start to believe in a story that there is such a thing as a life not worth living."
But writing in the Independent, Mrs Ewert said: "For Craig, my husband, allowing the cameras to film his last moments in Zurich was about facing the end honestly.
'Taboo''Taboo'
"This wasn't a film about him personally. He was keen to have it shown because when death is hidden and private, people don't face their fears about it."This wasn't a film about him personally. He was keen to have it shown because when death is hidden and private, people don't face their fears about it.
"They don't acknowledge that it is going to happen, they don't reflect on it, they don't want to face it. That's the taboo.""They don't acknowledge that it is going to happen, they don't reflect on it, they don't want to face it. That's the taboo."
Parent's speak of son's suicide
Mr Zaritsky told BBC Radio Four's Today programme: "I think it would be less than honest if we were to do a film about the process of assisted suicide and not actually be able to see the ultimate, you know, act as it were.
"Otherwise we'd be left open to charges that the death was unpleasant, or cruel or wasn't even done willingly.
"And by putting it out there in its entirety, people can judge for themselves."
Barbara Gibbon, Head of Sky Real Lives, said: "This is an issue that more and more people are confronting and this documentary is an informative, articulate and educated insight into the decisions some people have to make.Barbara Gibbon, Head of Sky Real Lives, said: "This is an issue that more and more people are confronting and this documentary is an informative, articulate and educated insight into the decisions some people have to make.
"I think it's important that TV broadcasters, and particularly Sky Real Lives, can stimulate debate about this issue through powerful, individual and engaging stories and give this subject a wider airing.""I think it's important that TV broadcasters, and particularly Sky Real Lives, can stimulate debate about this issue through powerful, individual and engaging stories and give this subject a wider airing."
Right to Die? will be shown on Sky Real Lives at 2100 GMT on Wednesday. A spokesman for the Prime Minister said assisted suicides were a controversial issue which divided opinion in the country.
He said the question of whether the programme should be shown was a matter for the broadcasting regulator Ofcom to decide whether the code of conduct was being breached.
Public interest
Media regulator Ofcom said it did not act on any programmes until after they had been transmitted.
A spokesman said: "All UK broadcasters must adhere to the Broadcasting Code which sets standards for the content of TV programmes.
"The code contains clear rules about the portrayal of self-harm and suicide in order to protect people from harm.
"We would look at the programme and assess it against the code to see whether we need to take it further."
Although suicide is no longer a crime in England and Wales, aiding and abetting suicide is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
There have been no prosecutions so far of relatives of more than 100 UK citizens who have gone to the Dignitas clinic.
On Tuesday, the Director of Public Prosecutions ruled that prosecuting the parents of a 23-year-old Worcester man who killed himself in a Dignitas clinic was "not in the public interest".
Paralysed rugby player Daniel James died in Switzerland in September. Julie and Mark James travelled to the clinic with their son.