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Police probe 'assisted suicide ' of rugby player
Rob Singh, Evening Standard17 Oct 2008
POLICE are today investigating the death of a paralysed rugby player who travelled to an assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland.
Daniel James, 23, of Worcester, died in the clinic, where he had travelled with his parents Mark and Julie with the intention of killing himself.
Mr James played rugby for England under-16s and England Students and was tipped for a future in the professional game. But during a training session at Nuneaton Rugby Club in March last year he suffered a collapsed spine in a scrum.
The former Worcester Royal Grammar School pupil was paralysed from the chest down.
West Mercia Police said a man and a woman had been questioned over his death on 12 September.
Assisted suicides are illegal in the UK but tolerated in Switzerland. In the past six years, 100 British people have travelled to the Dignitas clinic and had an assisted death.
No one has been prosecuted for accompanying a relative to die.
Reader views (6)
Who are we to stand in judgement if anyone has come to the decision to end their life, of which could not of been done lightly. Assisted suicide should be a matter of choice and definitely a human right.
- Kim, wilts, 25/10/2008 23:26
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If his parents had let Daniel die alone that would have been a crime. Each of us is allowed, legally, to kill ourselves - what right do we have to stop a disabled person from having that right just because they don't have the physical (but do have the mental) ability to undertake the act?
- Andy, London, 20/10/2008 10:10
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If that was his wishes, so be it.
- Brandon Thomas, London UK, 19/10/2008 14:15
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Were I 23 years old and paralysed from the chest down, I would consider suicide a viable option. If the police have nothing better to do than questioning the parents, it is perhaps best to disband the police and let every householder own a gun.
- Ciccio, Toronto, Canada., 19/10/2008 01:34
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When will the police give up this harassment of people who are harming no-one and simply wish to die with dignity? What is wrong with them? The sooner they are brought under democratic control (a) the safer and (b) the happier we shall all be. They are certainly not under control now.
- Colin Howson, Toronto, Canada, 17/10/2008 16:40
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How tragic. But how ludicrous that the Police are forced to waste their time investigating such deaths. My deepest sympathy to Daniel and his family.
- Squiz, Islington, 17/10/2008 16:37
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