His life was spent conducting orchestras that were renowned the world over, with his wife of 54 years at his side. He was nearly blind and growing far more deaf all the time, leaving his music well out of his grasp. His wife was diagnosed with cancer which was terminal, so Edward Downes, also known as Sir Edward since being knighted in 1991, took matters into his own hands and did it his way.
He and Joan, his wife ended their lives last week at a Zurich clinic which is operated by the assisted suicide group “Dignitas.”
They drank a small amount of clear liquid together they died hand-in-hand, with their two adult children Boudicca and Caractacus by their side. Edward was 85 and Joan was 74.
The deaths were a poignant end to a very illustrious career and seem to have brought to the fore again a debate in Britain about whether its an option that should exist, this right to die with dignity.
“After 54 happy years together, they decided to end their own lives rather than continue to struggle with serious health problems,” said a statement from the son and daughter, Caractacus and Boudicca.
and what do YOU think… did they have the right to choose their own time?
They most certainly had the right to choose. After reading the article it seems like they had a good long life and marriage. If we could all be so lucky to have a long life and pick our time to go.
I agree Liz. The right to die with dignity is something we all deserve and should not be denied. Suicide being illegal in most states is just ludicrous. To choose not to live with such serious things as cancer should be every persons right. Sadly, it isn’t, and family members who help often go to prison. there is nothing more basic than having the right of your own life, or death, and quite frankly, there are worse things than being dead.