Assisted suicide to be televised
Craig Ewert just before his death. Picture: Sky Real Lives/PA

The assisted suicide of a former university professor is to be shown on British television.

Craig Ewert, 59, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, who suffered from motor neurone disease, travelled to Switzerland to kill himself.

His death was assisted by the controversial organisation Dignitas.

Defending its decision to screen the death, broadcaster Sky said it was "an articulate and educated insight into decisions some people have to make".

At a Zurich clinic and with his wife Mary by his side, the American father-of-two drank a mixture of sedatives and turned off his own ventilator using his teeth.

He had allowed his death in September 2006 to be filmed for a documentary by Oscar-winning director John Zaritsky, which will be screened by Sky on Wednesday evening.

'Completely paralysed'

The documentary, Right to Die?, shows Mr Ewert outlining his options as "death, or suffering and death".

Before his death, Mr Ewert said: "I'd like to continue.

"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?"

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."

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."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...re/7774351.stm