Nobody should be surprised. An Oregon psychiatrist is opening a suicide clinic called “Dignity House,” at which—for a fee—people can commit assisted suicide under Oregon’s law. Services include flowers ($400), music ($400), photography (!) ($400), and for $1200, Dr. Big Heart will sit with you while you die. From his Endoflifeconsultants Website:
Normally, I will not be present for the completion of the Death with Dignity Act. If, however, you would like my therapy dog and me present at the time of death, you may purchase a 3 hour window of our time for $1,200. This is a cashier’s check or postal money order fee. Preferable hours are either 7-10 am or 6-9 pm. I am willing to cut my fee in half to $600 if you purchase the entire package of services. This would make the price of the packaged services $5,000. We work great as a team. I strongly recommend you choose this option. We will make your final journey pleasant and peaceful. Full of beauty and music–we would prefer no television, but if you must…Oh, this option allows you to pay by credit card to my Stuart Weisberg, MD, LLC account. Proprietor: Stuart Weisberg, MD, LLC
As they said in The Godfather, it’s not personal. It’s just business.
More details and analysis over at Secondhand Smoke.
Update: Weisberg’s license to practice medicine was suspended over unrelated drug prescribing irregularities. I guess those assisted suicide limited liability companies will just have to wait.
June 24th, 2010 | 3:26 pm
It takes 3 hours to commit to end your life?
How inhumane.
June 24th, 2010 | 4:33 pm
I wonder how much it costs to have just the dog present. Because I can see how spending your last hours in the company of a dog might be comforting. This guy, on the other hand…
June 24th, 2010 | 4:55 pm
Mrs. Jackson: He is selling his time for $400 an hour to be with someone when they die. No guarantee he would be. Assisted suicide can take up to 24 or more hours. Kinda gives a whole new meaning to, “Well, our time is up,” doesn’t it?
June 24th, 2010 | 5:11 pm
I find this excerpt from the website even more appalling than what you wrote in your original post. $400.00 for flowers. He really is (please forgive me) making a killing.
Maybe it will turn out this is a satiric parody.
June 24th, 2010 | 6:03 pm
Mr. Smith,
“Kinda gives a whole new meaning to, “Well, our time is up,” doesn’t it?”
Yes. Words fail.
June 25th, 2010 | 2:25 am
When we have to reserve a ‘window’ of some charlatan’s time in order to ‘die with dignity’, we are truly in the crapper–if you’ll pardon my language.
June 25th, 2010 | 1:53 pm
Once again, I have to hope this is someone putting us on. Unfortunately, the world in my lifetime has turned into a bad Heinlein novel.
June 27th, 2010 | 9:23 pm
“My dog and I have got better things to do than sit around and watch you kick the bucket, but I guess if you pay us enough we can spare a moment of our time… By the way, I’m not going to miss my lunch break or happy hour for you, so don’t even think about going there.”
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