Breaking News – Swiss Euthanasia Organization Being Investigated for Possible Profiteering

This just coming out of Switzerland, by way of The Telegraph in the U.K.:

Dignitas, which is meant to be a non-profit organisation, is being forced to open its accounts to prosecutors in Switzerland and disclose how much money it is receiving from its controversial business of assisting suicide.

The founder of the group is reported to have become a millionaire by helping at least 870 terminally ill people – an estimated 100 of whom were British – die. It is said to have taken as much as £61,000 from one woman, 10 times its usual fee.

This isn’t the first time profit motive has been tied to the “compassionate” acts of serial “mercy killers.” Filmmaker Jon Ronson followed George Exoo for a documentary that aired in the U.K in the first part of 2008. Exoo had recently taken on a “helper” and taught her the ins and outs of connecting with people and helping them kill themselves.

In an article from The Guardian, Ronson relates some information Susan (the pseudonym Ronson gives here) tells him while they’re alone:

Exoo drove off to do some real estate business and I was left alone with Susan. We sat on her porch. And she said something extraordinary. She said that unbeknown to Exoo she had set up her own suicide business and was willing to help practically anyone if the price was right.

“I see this as a business,” she said. “George sees it as a calling. There’s a big difference there. For me it’s no cash, no help.” She said her price was approximately $7,000.

“You’re bound to get it wrong, aren’t you?” I said. “And help someone who shouldn’t be helped.”

Susan shrugged. “Probably, at some point, yes,” she said.

I guess that there are folks (Ronson was one of them) who are shocked to find such blatant bottomfeeders as “Susan” in the euthanasia movement. That’s just because they don’t know the movement well enough.

Back to Switzerland and the current story on Dignitas, there’s this “bring it on” tidbit from the head of the organization – Ludwig Minelli:

“If the state prosecution feels I’m making myself rich, they should start legal proceedings.”

Minelli probably doesn’t follow news in the U.S., or he might take a more cautious tone. The day before being hauled into court to face federal charges of corruption, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich invited anyone to listen in on his private conversations any time at all – he had nothing to hide.

Turns out the feds had been listening for quite awhile and the good Governor should have left some things he said unspoken.

I look forward to Ludwig Minelli facing the same consequences of Hubris in the near future. –Stephen Drake