Ramón Sampedro

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Ramón Sampedro (January 5, 1943 - January 12, 1998) was a ship mechanic from Galicia, Spain who was paralyzed in a diving accident at the age of 25 and fought for his right to an assisted suicide for the next 29 years.

His argument hinged on the fact that he was sure of his decision to die, however due to his paralysis, was physically unable to commit suicide. He argued that suicide was a right and that he was being denied that right. He sought legal advice concerning his right to an assisted suicide, first in the courts of Spain and eventually, the European Commission in Strasbourg. His case drew attention from across Spain and also a significant following worldwide.

Death and aftermath

Sampedro died on Monday, January 12, 1998, in Boiro, Spain, from potassium cyanide poisoning. Several days later, a close friend of Ramón, Ramona Maneiro was arrested and charged with assisting suicide, but was released due to lack of evidence and no further charges were ever filed in connection with Ramón's death.

Seven years later, after the statute of limitations had expired, Ramona, speaking on a Spanish talk show admitted to providing him with a cyanide-laced drink and a straw. She said "I did it for love." She also said she turned on the video camera that recorded Ramón's last words before he drank the poison, and was in the room, behind the camera, when he died.

Mar adentro

The story of Sampedro's life and death were made into a Spanish movie, Mar adentro (English title: The Sea Inside) (2004).

Links:

1. Article by Rod Usher in TIME magazine written shortly after Sampedro's death.

2. Partial text of Ramón Sampedro's Will, addressed to "Honors, Political and Religious Authorities" (Translated by Denise Lanzer-Lerma)

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