Betty and George Coumbias
Betty and George Coumbias were a Canadian married couple who sought to become the first husband and wife to complete simultaneous
The Suicide Tourist.[1][2] Although assisted suicide was illegal in Canada, they hoped to end their lives with the approval of the government of Switzerland
.
The couple's request was unusual in that, while George Coumbias suffered from heart disease, Betty Coumbias was reported to be in excellent health.[3]
Ludwig Minelli, director of Swiss assisted-suicide group
Canton of Zurich to grant doctors the authority to issue lethal drugs to healthy people after being counseled by his organization, hoping to facilitate the Coumbias' suicide pact.[3]
In 2009, Betty Coumbias developed cancer and died, while George continued to live with his heart condition.[4] He died in 2016.[5]
See also
References
- ^ Healthy Vancouver woman wants to die beside her ailing husband Archived July 22, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, April 14, 2009
- ^ 'Suicide Tourists' Seek Place to Die December 5, 2007.
- ^ a b Deaths reignite assisted-suicide debate July 16, 2009
- ^ "Video - The Coumbias' Story | The Suicide Tourist | FRONTLINE | PBS". www.pbs.org.
- ^ [1][dead link]
