French doctor in euthanasia row faces murder charge

doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7423.1068-b

BMJ 2003;327:1068 (8 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7423.1068-b

News roundup

French doctor in euthanasia row faces murder charge

Vienna Jane Burgermeister

A French doctor who helped a severely disabled man to die could be charged with premeditated murder.

Frédéric Chaussoy, the head of intensive care at the hospital of Berck-sur-Mer, in Pas-de-Calais, made the decision at the end of September to switch off the life support machine of 22 year old Vincent Humbert after consulting his team.

State prosecutors are also questioning Mr Humbert�s mother, Marie Humbert, 48, who tried to help her son commit suicide by injecting him with barbiturates but who only succeeded in pushing him into a coma.

The incident gained much publicity after Ms Humbert announced on television that she intended to help her son carry out his wish to die.

Vincent Humbert, a fireman, lost the use of his four limbs, his sight, and speech after a traffic crash three years ago.

He made several attempts to end his life and asked President . . . [Full text of this article]

Add to CiteULike CiteULike Add to Complore Complore Add to Connotea Connotea Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us Add to Digg Digg Add to Reddit Reddit Add to StumbleUpon StumbleUpon Add to Technorati Technorati Twitter What's this?

Relevant Articles

France passes "right to die" law: Brad Spurgeon
BMJ 2004 329: 1307. [Extract] [Full Text]

Fourteen cases of euthanasia to be referred to French police: Brad Spurgeon
BMJ 2004 328: 1221. [Extract] [Full Text]

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

As GPs we have to discuss about euthanasia: Francesco Carelli
bmj.com, 9 Nov 2003 [Full text]
Withdrawal of Life Supports not Euthanasia: Brian J McDonald
bmj.com, 10 Nov 2003 [Full text]
Killing, not Letting Die.: Tom Woodcock
bmj.com, 12 Nov 2003 [Full text]
Euthanasy : considering the patient as an option ?: Pierre Rumeau, et al.
bmj.com, 20 Nov 2003 [Full text]