Help Will Dignitas help you if you don't have a physical illness?

[odette]

Hi. I just got out of the psych ward. I had some will to live before. The psych ward, plus the fact that I can't find anyone to help me has crushed my will to live and I need to focus 100% on dying as soon as possible. I'm finding mixed information on the question of whether Dignitas will help people who don't have a physical illness.

I've been googling a lot, and found some stuff that said people CTB with Dignitas due to "weariness of life." But then other places said that even people with very serious illnesses were denied? Maybe it changed? Does anyone know what the situation is now?

 

[KiraLittleOwl]

From their FAQ:

Q: I suffer from a mental illness and/or psychological problems. Can DIGNITAS arrange an accompanied suicide for me?

A: This is very difficult, a lengthy and complex proceeding with many obstacles and there is no guarantee to receive the "provisional green light" for an accompanied suicide. It depends much on the quality of the medical file: clear diagnosis of the illness, description of its cause and development, proof of all therapies tried (with or without success) plus an in-depth psychiatric appraisal concerning the capacity of judgement and discernment in regard of the wish for a self-determined end of life, also confirming that this wish is not a symptom of the psychiatric illness but a well-considered balance decision.

 

[odette]

From their FAQ:

Q: I suffer from a mental illness and/or psychological problems. Can DIGNITAS arrange an accompanied suicide for me?

A: This is very difficult, a lengthy and complex proceeding with many obstacles and there is no guarantee to receive the "provisional green light" for an accompanied suicide. It depends much on the quality of the medical file: clear diagnosis of the illness, description of its cause and development, proof of all therapies tried (with or without success) plus an in-depth psychiatric appraisal concerning the capacity of judgement and discernment in regard of the wish for a self-determined end of life, also confirming that this wish is not a symptom of the psychiatric illness but a well-considered balance decision.

Thanks, I saw that answer, but it doesn't say much, does it? It's difficult and there is no guarantee? So what conditions make it possible? How did some people get help just for "weariness of life"?

 

[Redt2go]

Sorry your will to live was crushed

 

[odette]

I'm sorry if I'm abrupt or cold or rude. It's because I'm a wreck and that's affecting my communication skills, not because anyone deserves it. Also, sorry that I'm being extremely self-involved when so many people here could use some empathy and someone to listen.

 

[Redt2go]

I'm sorry if I'm abrupt or cold or rude. It's because I'm a wreck and that's affecting my communication skills, not because anyone deserves it. Also, sorry that I'm being extremely self-involved when so many people here could use some empathy and someone to listen.

It's okay we all got stuff going on... It's so kind that you think that way but sad that you're belittling your own problems

 

[JustAboutDone]

From as I've always interpreted it you would need a psychiatric report to say your quality of life was unbearable and enduring and this would have no chance of changing - so you would have had to have a documented psychiatric history going back some years.

If you look up "Aurelia Browers Netherlands" you can find out about a 29 yr old young lady who had voluntary euthanasia earlier this year as she felt suffering from a personality disorder made her life unbearable.

I think you can email Dignitas for more direct information.

 

[Boochky]

I hate that being mentally ill makes even this harder.

 

[odette]

I'm really confused if mental illness makes it easier or harder. And does it depend on what kind of mental illness?

 

[JustAboutDone]

I'm really confused if mental illness makes it easier or harder. And does it depend on what kind of mental illness?

I think mental illness makes it harder as there isn't the same amount of historical evidence how these progress as there is with physical illness. And people can recover from mental illness to a degree - depending on the illness

 

[odette]

I think mental illness makes it harder as there isn't the same amount of historical evidence how these progress as there is with physical illness. And people can recover from mental illness to a degree - depending on the illness

Oh definitely it's harder to get help if you don't have a physical illness. But is it easier if you have no illness of any kind? Or do you need to have at least a mental illness?

 

[JustAboutDone]

You need to have some kind of illness either mental or physical for sure

 

[WhiteRabbit]

There's a small chance they might, but it's very expensive.

 

[sui2]

is there a chance that by giving further information to them they could put you in psych ward for suicide prevention, as it is on their agenda? maybe also for clarifying purposes for your disease? Or is this too paranoid? lol

 

[sui2]

and here is some information about a woman who was able to drink ethylene glycol, refused therapy and died in a hospital, back when in 2009 in the UK (on my memory, when I read this before she was with her lawyer, but maybe that was a second lady):

https://www.lawteacher.net/free-law-essays/medical-law/the-kerrie-wooltorton-inquest.php

 

[JustAboutDone]

and here is some information about a woman who was able to drink ethylene glycol, refused therapy and died in a hospital, just need to figure out which country this was (on my memory, when I read this before she was with her lawyer, but maybe that was a second lady):

https://www.lawteacher.net/free-law-essays/medical-law/the-kerrie-wooltorton-inquest.php

This was in England and the doctors decided that to treat her for the poisoning would be an invasion of her rights as she was deemed to have capacity when she wrote the letter and on attending the hospital.

 

[sui2]

so let's ask the question, if you go to a lawyer make your patientenverfügung / patients disposal and he will say you ok, after some days you attempt, is there a chance they would let you die? or does it has to be such a conscious way?

 

[Vaughn]

You have better luck in Belgium or Amsterdam... they have a bigger scope for this. Good Luck
Are you in Canada ?

 

[KiraLittleOwl]

You have better luck in Belgium or Amsterdam... they have a bigger scope for this. Good Luck
Are you in Canada ?

But they accept only citizens as far as I know.

 

[sui2]

I'm not sure about Belgium, but would Amsterdam work for a foreign person? God damn dutches have much more rights

 

[odette]

I have new information! I got a reply from Dignitas and now I understand what this long process is. You apply to them, giving an unbearable mental illness as your reason for suicide. They will then have you work with a doctor who will do everything in their power to cure you. If there is any therapy at all that you haven't tried, you will need to try it. Any medications you haven't tried, ECT, lifestyle changes, psychotherapy methods, CBT methods. Anything that could possibly have a chance of curing you, will have to try it.

If the doctor finally concludes that you have tried absolutely everything and you are definitely incurable of your mental illness, then they will sign you off. It looks like something that could take a year or more. Honestly, I still think it's worth it. And then I can go with the peace of mind knowing that I definitely tried everything. It would be a good thing to show loved ones too, if you have any. I'm sure it would be comforting for them to know that you didn't CTB until you really had exhausted every possible option.