Index
Ramón
Sampedro Died
Information
about the law
One week
later. Summary of news.
Other documents:
Ramón
Sampedro's Will
Image of
Ramón Sampedro and a few pages of his Will
Ramón
Sampedro Died
Ramón Sampedro, who has been a quadriplegic for 29 years, died
on Monday, January 12, in Boiro, Spain. His body was found in his
new apartment where he had moved recently. The cause of his death
was intake of cyanide.
Sampedro had appealed unsuccessfully to the justice system to be
allowed to get help to die. Tired of waiting for justice to
support his right to die, a few months ago he announced that he
had made a final decision. Many people had access to his
apartment, and he received several visits during the last days.
His neighbors said that they respect Ramón Sampedro's decision.
Some people are willing to self-incriminate if anyone is
persecuted for his death.
The Spanish society Derecho a Morir Dignamente, which helped
Sampedro during his long legal battle, has asked for a national
debate about the subject.
Information
about the law
The article number 143 of the current Spanish Penal Code
(approved on November 8th, 1995) says: "Whoever causes or
cooperates with necessary and direct actions in the death of
another person, after his or her expressed petition, in the case
that the victim suffered from a serious illness that would
necessarily lead to his or her death, or that produced serious,
permanent and hard to tolerate suffering, will be punished with a
penalty of one and a half to three years in prison if he or she
executes the death, and six months to one year if he or she only
cooperates in it."
Some jurists think that if the person who cooperates has no
criminal record, he or she would not be imprisoned.
One
week later.
Summary of news.
This case serves as a testimony that after a long legal fight, he
opted to validate his rights in life, and to act outside the
legislative arena. Ramón, seaman by profession, had an accident
when he was 26 years old that left him totally bedridden. A
quadriplegic (he could only move his head) he refused to accept a
life with such condition; watching life flow around him.
In 1993 Ramón contacted the D.M.D. association to ask for legal
advice, and presented his first legal suit in 1994 in the
Barcelona Courts. The court rejected his petition for a death
with dignity. It was the first such case in Spain and it set off
the first social and legal polemic about euthanasia. Afterwards
his petition went to the Human Rights Commission of the
Strassburg Court. It was rejected. After a long round of fights
through the courts, the Coruña Court denied his right to die
with dignity for the first time.
Pániker (President of D.M.D.) declared in the "Diario
16" (1/17/96):
The fact that the association gave him legal advice during his 5
year fight through the courts, does not mean that either before
or currently, did we give him suggestions about how to end his
life without legal compromising another person; as assisting a
person in the commission of a suicide is legally punishable in
Spain. Although he did ask for assistance in helping him to die,
we told him we could only help him to change the law.
Pániker remembers that Ramón never wanted his death to cause
problems to anyone else. Sampedro transmitted a sense of great
confidence. He said that he was a brain attached to a dead body;
and for someone who loved life as much as he did, this was not
dignified.
According to the D.M.D., in order to have the Constitution
recognize the right to die with dignity, the Living Will must be
spread.
To the media, Sampedro had admitted that his task was not just a
legal battling, but he was also asking to end his life.
According to Sampedro, his brothers and sisters "prefer him
in the condition he is in, rather than to see him dead."
After his dead, they declared that they respected his decision,
and that they will help to ensure that no one is penalized.
At the same time, the towns people where he lived his life have
said that if anyone is accused, they will all present themselves
as possibly involved.
Sampedro in his book Letters from Hell, written with a device
that he held in his teeth, let his decision be known. Talking
about his torture, he commented:
As my mother would do, I would do everything for my child, my
body. But in the circumstances that I find myself, my worry is in
freeing it from suffering. I am not depressed; I am not one of
the walking dead, as are many that wander about, who have not
found a reason to live. I know all there is to know abut myself
and my circumstances. (El Periódico, 1/13/98).
Although he was a man who enjoyed the small things in life, and
he was surrounded by friends; his objective was clear: to die. He
wasn't afraid of death, because in his profession he had faced
it.
Aurora Bau, member of the Association, said:
The situation in Spain to depenalize assisted suicide goes
forward; it is not stunted.
The representative of D.M.D. supported the Living Will.
This case will not have negative effects for anyone, because
those who have the joy to continue living and going forward, have
our support; and so did Sampedro. [...] What we want is that
whoever wants to say "enough" to life can exercise that
right. [...] His dead was announced.
Juana Teresa Betancor in the radio and television has extensively
offered her services.
All of the spokespeople for D.M.D. Barcelona have stated their
opinions to the media these days, and they have defended a common
ideology; and the other members appreciate their participation.
I should mention that the media have shown an accurate picture of
the facts: his new home, the causes of death, Sampedro's
thoughts, etc.
In the newspapers there have been distortions regarding those who
took care of Sampedro in his final days. I am the famous 22 year
old girlfriend who killed him. (El Mundo, 1/15/98).
ABC has not published any article.
The media for the first time have shown sensitivity towards the
topic. Although police continue to investigate; a polemic has
opened up in the media: a social, legal, ethical, political, and
medical polemic.
Society understands his "desperate" act.
The ethical: consideration to decide about death.
The political: although there are no explicit opinions expressed,
PSOE (socialists) and PP (conservatives) have shown opposition to
the legislation of euthanasia. ERC (a Catalan party) commented
that it will propose a law this year to the Catalan Parliament.
Medical: two positions exist. Some have stated that there should
be regulation of euthanasia. Others denounce assisted suicide;
they reaffirm their attitude that they can only act in support of
life.
El País (1/18/98) has gathered testimony from people who are ill
who have talked about their situations, and they have denounced
their opinions against the inability to choose.
All the media since the day of this event until now (1/19/98).
Deciding about euthanasia. The legislation about euthanasia
causes an ethical debate for society in the West; various
countries have noted. (La Vanguardia, 1/19/98).
Ramón Sampedro:
If they acceded to helping me die, they will make me happy. And
he adds: Whoever helps me to die
will be a true friend.
Compiled by María Martínez, volunteer from D.M.D.
Translated into English by Denise Lanzer-Lerma.
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Send comments to Miguel A. Lerma at: mlerma@math.utexas.edu
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Last modified: Mar 09, 1998