An 84-year-old British woman has sparked a new debate about the ethics of assisted suicide after taking her life at a Swiss clinic because she did not want to die of old age.
Nan Maitland, who suffered from arthritis but was active and not terminally ill, left a note saying she wished to escape the "long period of decline, sometimes called 'prolonged dwindling', that so many people unfortunately experience before they die".
Mrs Maitland, who was separated with three children, founded an organisation that campaigns to allow elderly people who are not terminally ill to commit suicide with medical aid.
Her case has led to accusations that relaxation in the law on assisted suicide will lead to people dying who could have continued to lead meaningful lives. More...
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Nan Maitland, who suffered from arthritis but was active and not terminally ill, left a note saying she wished to escape the "long period of decline, sometimes called 'prolonged dwindling', that so many people unfortunately experience before they die".
Mrs Maitland, who was separated with three children, founded an organisation that campaigns to allow elderly people who are not terminally ill to commit suicide with medical aid.
Her case has led to accusations that relaxation in the law on assisted suicide will lead to people dying who could have continued to lead meaningful lives. More...
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