Plasberg and the difficulty of dying (4) By Manuela Braun

Can the right to die by law define? The topic "The last freedom - How authentic can you regulate the dying?" Ultimately brought mainly a realization: For each example, there is a counter-example. And the patients are not available makes it easier.
Frank PLASBERG, "Tough but fair", television, The TV presenter Frank Plasberg ( "Tough but fair") was established in 1957 in Remscheid near Wuppertal born.

After 75 minutes discussion and inserts the moderator announced that Frank Plasberg striking conclusion: "I know that it is confusing, what you saw tonight." Who "Tough but fair" attentively followed, the end was only one thing clear: Sure is nothing when it comes to self-determination at the end of one's life goes. But this was - or at least is the hope - certainly with the intention of the consignment.The cases that are discussed in public, are often spectacular. The former Hamburg justice senator Roger Kusch developed a suicide machine and wants already in several cases for assisted suicides have. A Frenchwoman, in an incurable facial tumor became ill, demanded medical euthanasia and ended her life with sleeping funds. Especially in England has the 13-year-old Hannah Jones from England the right to die fought. The inserts in "Tough but fair" shows an elegant girl, quietly and in his statements about much. "I could be worse than now," she says. "And even if there should be better, I will not risk it." The girl has been fighting for eight years against the blood cancer, now her heart is so damaged that only a transplant could prolong her life. "With 13 years, it has the right to decide," says her mother. Hannah has decided: it rejects the operation and wants the last few months until her death with her family.

Only - what does it mean now for the right to own a self-determined death? As an issue with pros and cons good for the case of cancer little girl, because Frank Plasbergs guests wanted the 13-year-old's decision to make an operation in dispute. So it went much more for the most part of the consignment to the patient, which in the case of prevention is to ensure that a patient's wishes can no longer communicate. Thus Hannah's case had so little to do with chocolate, such as radishes.

Death and state

At least for the Patients' but there were clear fronts: Luc Jochimsen, Bundestag deputies of the Left, called for a very open, even some form of patients available. Julia Kloeckner of the CDU called for a restriction on lethal diseases and conditions such as notarial deed and medical advice. Frank-Ulrich Montgomery, vice president of the Medical Association, was mainly a call: "The policy must not be in all areas of life meddle - leave it!"

And the next individual case would not in a discussion about the self-determined death suit. Tilman Jens, son of writer Walter Jens, reported by the father of dementia. "He is now accordingly, but not unhappy." Even a few years ago had declared Jens when he could no longer write, if he wanted to be dead. No, it was no consolation to him that the father was happy, but a pleasure, said Tilman Jens. Objectively, but very loving and touching at the same time, he told how the father is, how little of this still from the Walter Jens resembles earlier. "I had my father wanted another death." A case of Frank-Ulrich Montgomery nothing to do with the patients' disposal, but rather with active euthanasia had to be done.Ultimately, missing the discussion but the individual cases which showed the problems with the theme Patients can arise. And so the guests always constructed their own in order to clarify their views. Stomach probes, hoses, artificial respiration - were united they will never.