Final Exit Network
Encyclopedia
The Final Exit Network is an American all-volunteer organization that offers counseling, support, and guidance in a successful suicide to individuals who are suffering from an intolerable illness. The organization believes that individuals suffering from intolerable illnesses deserve a dignified death. The organization promotes the use of living wills, advance directives, durable powers of attorney for health care, and do not resuscitate orders, and advocates for individuals when their Advance Directives are not being followed.
Final Exit Network originated as the Hemlock Society, which later was renamed End-of-Life Choices. End-of-Life Choices merged with the Compassion in Dying Federation to form the currently existing group Compassion and Choices, whose efforts primarily promote legislative change. Some of the former Hemlock Society's leadership formed Final Exit Network, which focuses on providing compassionate support to the dying as opposed to promoting legislative change. Final Exit Network is a member of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies (and Compassion and Chocies is not). Its president is Wendell Stephenson. Derek Humphry
, founder of the Hemlock Society
, is a member of the Final Exit Network's advisory board, and author of the #1 New York Times best seller Final Exit first published in 1991.
The Exit Guide program of Final Exit Network provides compassionate support to many whom other organizations may turn away, accepting people with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Alzheimer’s disease, congestive heart failure, emphysema, cancer, and other incurable illnesses. Final Exit Network conducts a rigorous review process and protocols to ensure that applcants for support in their "self deliverance" are suitable candidates and are not suicidal.
Two of the defendants, Wye Hale-Rowe and Roberta Massey, both elderly and in poor health, agreed to plead guilty to minor charges in plea bargains that ensure they would not run any risk of being sentenced to a prison term.
The trial of the other two began on April 4, 2011. After a two-week trial, Final Exit Network's medical director, Dr. Lawrence Egbert, was found not guilty by an eight-member jury. The jury was "hung" on the case against a volunteer "Exit Guide," Franklin Langsner. He is scheduled for a retrial on August 4, 2011.
Opponents of the right to die hailed the arrests. On the other hand, bioethicist Jacob M. Appel
called the group "courageous" and bioethics attorney William Colby of the Center for Practical Ethics questioned whether "trying to round up people in groups" was productive.
On April 1, 2010, the four Final Exit Network defendants pleaded not guilty to charges of assisted suicide, evidence tampering and racketeering
. It is likely to be a crucial test case.
The defendants moved to dismiss the indictment on grounds that the Georgia statute on aiding in a suicide is facially unconstitutional under the First Amendment. In early 2011 the trial court judge entererd an order denying the defendants' motion to dismiss the indictment. The trial court judge also entered an order authorizing the defendants to appeal this decision. The Supreme Court of Georgia is now considering whether to accept the pre-trial appeal.
Final Exit Network originated as the Hemlock Society, which later was renamed End-of-Life Choices. End-of-Life Choices merged with the Compassion in Dying Federation to form the currently existing group Compassion and Choices, whose efforts primarily promote legislative change. Some of the former Hemlock Society's leadership formed Final Exit Network, which focuses on providing compassionate support to the dying as opposed to promoting legislative change. Final Exit Network is a member of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies (and Compassion and Chocies is not). Its president is Wendell Stephenson. Derek Humphry
Derek Humphry
Derek Humphry is a British-born American journalist, author and principal founder in 1980 of the Hemlock Society USA and past president of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies, both of which support the notion of decriminalisation of voluntary euthanasia...
, founder of the Hemlock Society
Hemlock Society
The Hemlock Society USA was a national right-to-die organization founded in Santa Monica, California by Derek Humphry in 1980. Its primary missions included providing information to dying persons and supporting legislation permitting physician-assisted suicide. In 1992, following the publication of...
, is a member of the Final Exit Network's advisory board, and author of the #1 New York Times best seller Final Exit first published in 1991.
The Exit Guide program of Final Exit Network provides compassionate support to many whom other organizations may turn away, accepting people with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Alzheimer’s disease, congestive heart failure, emphysema, cancer, and other incurable illnesses. Final Exit Network conducts a rigorous review process and protocols to ensure that applcants for support in their "self deliverance" are suitable candidates and are not suicidal.
Jana Van Voorhis case
Members of the Final Exit Network were alleged to have been involved in the death of Arizona woman Jana Van Voorhis in 2007. {Bethea, Charles, "Death's Escorts: The Final Exit Network, and what they leave behind," March 2010}. Two of them were charged with aiding in a suicide, which is considered "manslaughter" under Arizona law, and conspiracy to commit manslaughter, and two others were charged only with conspiracy.Two of the defendants, Wye Hale-Rowe and Roberta Massey, both elderly and in poor health, agreed to plead guilty to minor charges in plea bargains that ensure they would not run any risk of being sentenced to a prison term.
The trial of the other two began on April 4, 2011. After a two-week trial, Final Exit Network's medical director, Dr. Lawrence Egbert, was found not guilty by an eight-member jury. The jury was "hung" on the case against a volunteer "Exit Guide," Franklin Langsner. He is scheduled for a retrial on August 4, 2011.
John Celmer case
On February 25, 2009, four members of the Final Exit Network were arrested for allegedly assisting the suicide of a cancer patient, John Celmer, of Cumming, Georgia, a small town north of Atlanta. Those arrested were Ted Goodwin, Claire Blehr, Dr. Lawrence Egbert, and Nicholas Alec Sheridan. The organization, Final Exit Network, Inc., was also indicted on a racketeering charge.Opponents of the right to die hailed the arrests. On the other hand, bioethicist Jacob M. Appel
Jacob M. Appel
Jacob M. Appel is an American author, bioethicist and social critic. He is best known for his short stories, his work as a playwright, and his writing in the fields of reproductive ethics, organ donation, neuroethics and euthanasia....
called the group "courageous" and bioethics attorney William Colby of the Center for Practical Ethics questioned whether "trying to round up people in groups" was productive.
On April 1, 2010, the four Final Exit Network defendants pleaded not guilty to charges of assisted suicide, evidence tampering and racketeering
Racket (crime)
A racket is an illegal business, usually run as part of organized crime. Engaging in a racket is called racketeering.Several forms of racket exist. The best-known is the protection racket, in which criminals demand money from businesses in exchange for the service of "protection" against crimes...
. It is likely to be a crucial test case.
The defendants moved to dismiss the indictment on grounds that the Georgia statute on aiding in a suicide is facially unconstitutional under the First Amendment. In early 2011 the trial court judge entererd an order denying the defendants' motion to dismiss the indictment. The trial court judge also entered an order authorizing the defendants to appeal this decision. The Supreme Court of Georgia is now considering whether to accept the pre-trial appeal.