The amount paid by the sisters for the procedure concluded on November 17 included medical assistance, legal advice and organizational costs
Alice and Ellen Kessler they would have paid a sum of thousands of euros to access the assisted suicide. Confirming the use of the procedure is Wega Wetzel, spokesperson for DGHS, an organization active in Germany in supporting people facing the end of life. “The Kessler twins reached out to us,” Wetzel said. “They had been considering this choice for some time. They had been members of the organization for over six months. A lawyer and a doctor conducted preliminary discussions with them.” This revealed the process followed by the two sisters, which led to the final decision on November 17, when they said goodbye in their home in Grünwald, near Munich.
Kessler twins, the cost of assisted suicide
—
According to the current fee schedule, Wetzel explained, an assisted suicide procedure through DGHS has a cost of 4 thousand euros for the individual patient and 6 thousand euros for two people who choose to face the journey together. As in the case of the Kessler twins, precisely. However, the amount includes medical assistance, legal support and all operational expenses incurred by the organization. Last year alone, DGHS has accompanied over 600 people in similar ways.
the phases of assisted suicide
—
During an assisted suicide, the doctor in charge prepares a lethal infusion of anesthetic; then a healthcare worker inserts the needle into the patient’s arm. For the purposes of the validity of the procedure, it is imperative that the person concerned initiates the infusion, thus assuming directly and in full awareness responsibility for the act.
Once the death has been ascertained, the association is obliged to inform immediately the police. However, access to assisted suicide is not automatic. DGHS requires applicants to be registered for at least six monthssubmit a formal request for evaluation and face several interviews with doctors and lawyers. Sometimes family members are also involved: “The people who opt for this choice absolutely must be lucid, free and responsible. The decision must be thoughtful and consistent, i.e. made over a long period and not impulsive“.
La Gazzetta dello Sport
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED