The chilling scenes show Craig Ewert, 59, who had motor neurone disease, setting a timer to switch off his ventilator before drinking lethal sedatives.

And it will all be broadcast on British TV tomorrow night.

Mr Ewert's assisted suicide at the Swiss Dignitas clinic, was filmed for a documentary called Right To Die - The Suicide Tourist, to be shown on Sky Real Lives channel on Wednesday night.

It will be the first time an assisted suicide has been shown on British TV and will be sure to spark debate over the legality of the sensitive subject - as well as the controversial decision to screen it.

The retired university professor and dad-of-two decided to end his life as his illness was crippling his body.

Mr Ewert said:

"I am tired of the disease but I am not tired of living. I still enjoy life enough that I would like to continue but the thing is that I really cannot.

If I opt for life then that is choosing to be tortured rather than end this journey and start the next one. I cannot take the risk.

Let's face it, when you're completely paralysed and cannot talk how do you let somebody know you are suffering? This could be a complete and utter hell.

You can watch only so much of yourself drain away before you look at what is left and say "This is an empty shell.

Once I become completely paralysed then I am nothing more than a living tomb that takes in nutrients through a tube in the stomach - it's painful. Let's face it, when you're completely paralysed and cannot talk how do you let somebody know you are suffering?"

Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland and Mr Ewert passed away peacefully holding his wife, Mary's hand.

But TV watchdogs have slammed the decision to broadcast the scenes.
John Beyer director of Mediawatch UK said: "This subject is something that is quite an important political issue at the moment and my anxieties are that the programme will influence public opinion. If this programme is not impartial and promotes euthanasia then it would be in breach of the act - in short it must not influence members of the public or a change in the law." ...

The Sun, UK


What do you think?

1. Is there ever a case for euthanasia?

2. What do you think about it being shown on TV?

(One will have to go to the link to see the pictures of the death event.)