Doctor Death sets up suicide group in Sussex

Dr Michael Irwin plans to set up euthanasia group in Sussex Dr Michael Irwin plans to set up euthanasia group in Sussex

A controversial GP dubbed Dr Death because he helped take people to a euthanasia clinic is to set up Britain’s first “suicide group” in Sussex.

Dr Michael Irwin, who has a home in Cromwell Road, Hove, yesterday (March 17) told how plans for the “Die-alogue” group were under way.

It is due to be launched in Hove in mid-April and already a number of people have expressed an interest in joining.

Members of the group will share advice on euthanasia, the Swiss suicide clinic Dignitas and end-of-life care.

Dr Irwin, who is retired, said he hoped members would help each other travel abroad to commit suicide, if necessary.

He said: “The topic of rational suicide should be discussed.

“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.”

For terminal illness

He said he did not advocate suicide in healthy people but if a person wanted to end their life because of a terminal illness or they were in great pain then they should have this right and their families and friends should not be prosecuted for helping them.

The group will also discuss care plans should a person suffer a serious illness, such as locked-in syndrome or a stroke.

Dr Irwin said: “Some people want to stay alive – they want all the care they can receive – whereas others do not.

“This group would help people make these decisions while they can.”

Dignitas travel

He told how the idea for the group came from the Brighton and Hove Fabian Society, to which he gave a talk recently.

Dr Irwin has also been in contact with an 83-year-old not from Sussex, who has dementia and wants to travel to Dignitas to end his life.

If he goes he will be the first known Briton suffering from the condition to go to the suicide clinic.

The man, whose dementia is at an early stage, has obtained a report from a psychiatrist that said he is “mentally competent” to end his life.

Police co-operation

In 2011 Dr Irwin revealed how a 91-year-old from Eastbourne had contacted him asking about Dignitas.

He did not take her to Switzerland.

However, Sussex Police officers interviewed – but did not arrest – him.

Dr Irwin said he would “not cooperate” with police if officers asked who the people who went to Dignitas were.

He said then: “This is the first time I have not fully co-operated with police.”

A Sussex Police spokesman said the force was not in a position to comment.

Talking Point? To what extent to you support or disapprove of euthanasia for terminally ill people?

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Comments(19)

dawind says...
1:19pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Well done Doctor.
Such a group is long overdue.

MuammarQaddafi says...
2:10pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Can we presume that Dr Irwin himself, as the founder, will be Member #1?

1styummymummy says...
2:16pm Mon 18 Mar 13

I fully support this having been to Dignitas last September with my mother.
Anyone wanting the choice should be allowed to make the decision without the pro lifers getting all busy. If it's not for you, fine. but allow those that want the choice, the ability to do so.

1styummymummy says...
2:19pm Mon 18 Mar 13

also, if Dr Irwin needs supporters/volunteer
s then I am happy to share my experience with others who need it.

whereisthe...? says...
2:41pm Mon 18 Mar 13

So not a biased, leading poll from the Argus then, as thanks to the nutcase for the interview...

Also highlights how many extreme Left-wing idealistic nut cases their are in this hideous city.

Lets see how you feel when your child kills themselves with this persons assistance. Wont be so happy then will you!!

Shameful morons.

Cave Johnson says...
3:31pm Mon 18 Mar 13

He's only dubbed Dr Death by the Argus.

jazzgrove says...
4:14pm Mon 18 Mar 13

whereisthe...? wrote:
So not a biased, leading poll from the Argus then, as thanks to the nutcase for the interview...

Also highlights how many extreme Left-wing idealistic nut cases their are in this hideous city.

Lets see how you feel when your child kills themselves with this persons assistance. Wont be so happy then will you!!

Shameful morons.
Yeah, I don't think anybody can just walk in and say "I want to die - can you fit me in for 10am?"... And you probably have no idea whatsoever what it is like to live everyday in extreme pain because you just happen to have one of many thousands of illnesses & medical problems that one can experience in their life.

mimseycal says...
4:15pm Mon 18 Mar 13

whereisthe...? wrote:
So not a biased, leading poll from the Argus then, as thanks to the nutcase for the interview...

Also highlights how many extreme Left-wing idealistic nut cases their are in this hideous city.

Lets see how you feel when your child kills themselves with this persons assistance. Wont be so happy then will you!!

Shameful morons.
I think it is a question of dignity and personal choice. Please do not bring in that highly emotive 'how would you feel if your child ...' Firstly, the right to elect ones' life would never be extended to anyone who is not in a position to make a clear case for their choice. Secondly, every human being was at one point the child of parent/s.

Electing to take the euthanasia route is never a snap decision. It is a decision that can is reached after extensive thought and consultation with professionals and loved ones.

When you are terminally/chronical
ly ill and you have a prognosis that states that your end will involve a period of loss of dignity, loss of personal control, increasing pain and decreasing ability to interact with others around you in any meaningful way, why should you be forced to submit to all that?

For some people the real value of life is its quality not its quantity.

Artificial says...
4:25pm Mon 18 Mar 13

whereisthe...? wrote:
So not a biased, leading poll from the Argus then, as thanks to the nutcase for the interview...

Also highlights how many extreme Left-wing idealistic nut cases their are in this hideous city.

Lets see how you feel when your child kills themselves with this persons assistance. Wont be so happy then will you!!

Shameful morons.
Trolling again. If you're not complaining about right-wing bias you're complaining about left-wing bias. Naughty character.

Shameful...

dawind says...
4:28pm Mon 18 Mar 13

whereisthe...? wrote:
So not a biased, leading poll from the Argus then, as thanks to the nutcase for the interview...

Also highlights how many extreme Left-wing idealistic nut cases their are in this hideous city.

Lets see how you feel when your child kills themselves with this persons assistance. Wont be so happy then will you!!

Shameful morons.
Its THERE, not... their!
Ye Gods.
And before you call anyone a Moron...
You are advised to check here..http://www.the
morontest.com/
Glass houses and all that.

Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit says...
4:56pm Mon 18 Mar 13

I fully support Dr Irwin. and wish him all the best. It's an emotive subject and there is no 'right' or wrong' answer (despite what religious fundamentalists would have you believe), but avenues should be opened that the terminally-ill can explore as opposed to being forced to go down the single 'suffer until you die' road.

theleftygiraffe says...
5:07pm Mon 18 Mar 13

whereisthe...? wrote:
So not a biased, leading poll from the Argus then, as thanks to the nutcase for the interview...

Also highlights how many extreme Left-wing idealistic nut cases their are in this hideous city.

Lets see how you feel when your child kills themselves with this persons assistance. Wont be so happy then will you!!

Shameful morons.
What a well thought out, balanced and coherent response.

AmboGuy says...
5:39pm Mon 18 Mar 13

I can't believe that all the Pro Life bible bashers haven't been on here yet to tell us that only god can take lives blah blah blah

whereisthe? is up to his usual trolling but I wonder what the genuine pro life loons have to say about this? They don't seem too keen on letting people have a say on what they do with their own body.

The last temptation of crisps says...
6:02pm Mon 18 Mar 13

No thanks to a long and horrendous period of suffering before death, whilst at the same time desperately trying to avoid deeply traumatising those loved ones you leave behind.

Even with excellent end-of-life care I'll never forget the prolonged suffering of a friend that could not be helped. It doesn't happen to everyone - but those who witness it know that things need to change.

End-stage metastatic lung cancer with bone and liver involvement, for example, gets a pet dog a peaceful end at the vets.

Why, then, should humans be forced into the starring role of their own 6-month personal horror movie too horrendous for broadcast? People dying often initially isolate themselves or use denial to spare others some pain - but this lasts only while they're well enough. After that they can easily miss the brief chance of a dignified farewell. It's not right.

Who on earth would want to leave loved ones with so many harrowing memories and depression arising from a feeling of utter helplessness as you force them to watch you slowly rot in pain?

Also, Brompton cocktail should be urgently brought back into use and the finger-waging, sanctimonious morons who phased it out should be jailed for cruelty (had they caused the same subsequent level of suffering and loss of dignity even in animals they would probably have been jailed).

Cyril Bolleaux says...
9:03am Tue 19 Mar 13

AmboGuy wrote:
I can't believe that all the Pro Life bible bashers haven't been on here yet to tell us that only god can take lives blah blah blah whereisthe? is up to his usual trolling but I wonder what the genuine pro life loons have to say about this? They don't seem too keen on letting people have a say on what they do with their own body.
I'm a "pro life bible basher." We don't get involved with people like you online because this is a complex emotive subject. The whole issue and people's views should be treated with a bit of respect rather than cheap name calling.

AmboGuy says...
9:55am Tue 19 Mar 13

Cyril Bolleaux wrote:
AmboGuy wrote:
I can't believe that all the Pro Life bible bashers haven't been on here yet to tell us that only god can take lives blah blah blah whereisthe? is up to his usual trolling but I wonder what the genuine pro life loons have to say about this? They don't seem too keen on letting people have a say on what they do with their own body.
I'm a "pro life bible basher." We don't get involved with people like you online because this is a complex emotive subject. The whole issue and people's views should be treated with a bit of respect rather than cheap name calling.
You're a pro life bible basher? Then I feel very sorry for you.

I'm sorry that you feel you can tell other people what to do with their own body. So what are your views on assisted suicide then?

Ps - being a pro lifer I don't think you should start talking about respecting people's views. Pot - kettle anyone?

Cyril Bolleaux says...
10:25am Tue 19 Mar 13

AmboGuy wrote:
Cyril Bolleaux wrote:
AmboGuy wrote: I can't believe that all the Pro Life bible bashers haven't been on here yet to tell us that only god can take lives blah blah blah whereisthe? is up to his usual trolling but I wonder what the genuine pro life loons have to say about this? They don't seem too keen on letting people have a say on what they do with their own body.
I'm a "pro life bible basher." We don't get involved with people like you online because this is a complex emotive subject. The whole issue and people's views should be treated with a bit of respect rather than cheap name calling.
You're a pro life bible basher? Then I feel very sorry for you. I'm sorry that you feel you can tell other people what to do with their own body. So what are your views on assisted suicide then? Ps - being a pro lifer I don't think you should start talking about respecting people's views. Pot - kettle anyone?
QED

Sue De Nimes says...
8:06pm Thu 21 Mar 13

This city is turning into even more of a vile sewer.

Sue De Nimes says...
8:08pm Thu 21 Mar 13

AmboGuy wrote:
I can't believe that all the Pro Life bible bashers haven't been on here yet to tell us that only god can take lives blah blah blah

whereisthe? is up to his usual trolling but I wonder what the genuine pro life loons have to say about this? They don't seem too keen on letting people have a say on what they do with their own body.
I think most people who describe themselves as "pro-life" are perfectly happy for people to do as they will with their own bodies.

What they object to is people doing what they want with another body - that of an unborn child.

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