Medical Futility Blog: Assisted Suicide on TV in 1970

Friday, March 6, 2009

I was surprised to see assisted suicide portrayed and described as "death with dignity" on this 1970 episode of Adam 12 (at 5min).

Christian Sinclair, MD said...: If he strangled her that is not assisted suicide. yes she wished to die, but she did not commit the act herself. i only watched until about ten minutes in.

Interesting to note this was made before the first growth of US Hospice's in the late 1970's. But he does mention dignity in dying.; March 6, 2009 10:35 PM
Thaddeus Mason Pope said...: Okay -- maybe not "assisted suicide" as that is defined in criminal statutes. The wife wanted to commit suicide and wanted her husband's assistance. Yet, you are correct that the final act was not committed by the wife herself (as with early Kevorkian cases or at Dignitas).; March 7, 2009 9:39 AM
Christian Sinclair, MD said...: Just keeping you on your toes! ;-); March 7, 2009 9:48 AM