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Patient's death wish comes true
21/12/2006 14:44 - (SA)
Rome - A doctor said on Thursday he assisted in the death of Piergiorgio Welby, the Italian muscular dystrophy patient who claimed the right to die, by removing him from the respirator that was keeping him alive.
"I concurred with his wish to die," anaesthetist Mario Riccio told a packed news conference, adding that he also gave Welby a pain killer.
"These last weeks and these last days I was in contact with (Italian Radical Party leader) Marco Capatto, who asked me if I would be willing to realise what was clearly the wish of Piergiorgio Welby," Riccio said.
The Radicals have championed Welby's right to die along with several other left-wing groups in Italy, where euthanasia is illegal.
A spokesperson for the Radical Party said earlier on Thursday that Welby had died a natural death.
Riccio said: "Naturally I saw no obstacle, since I hold as Piergiorgio Welby did to the right (to refuse care) that is absolutely recognised and widely practiced in Italy, and therefore said I was available."
He added: "I came to Rome on Monday and met personally with Piergiorgio.... We had a long discussion. He fully confirmed to me his wish to have the artificial respirator stopped... while sedated," the anaesthetist said.
"Last night Piergiorgio asked... to receive a sedative and to interrupt his care," added the doctor.
Welby, who was able to communicate only by moving his eyelids, died at 22:30 GMT on Wednesday, Riccio said.
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