Sir Terry Pratchett has died - aged 66.

[electric*mayhem*band]

The world has lost one of the brightest and sharpest minds, but his legacy will live on.

[polksaladallie]

I wonder if he died at the time of his choosing.

[amber-eyed-girl]

It has been reported that he died naturally and unassisted (Daily Mail, U.K.)

[polksaladallie]

That is what the death certificate would say if it had happened another way also.   That is the point, and we will never know, and neither should we.

[the_great_she_elephant]

It would be nice to think he had.

[amber-eyed-girl]

In the ordinary way of things, no, we shouldn't know. But as he was a strong believer in being able to choose, then it might be made public if he did choose the way and time. However it happened, I hope it was painless.

[polksaladallie]

---

@amber-eyed-girl wrote:

In the ordinary way of things, no, we shouldn't know. But as he was a strong believer in being able to choose, then it might be made public if he did choose the way and time. However it happened, I hope it was painless.

---

I agree with your last sentence, but assisted suicide is a crime, and sometimes there is no other recourse but to have assistance.  So of course that would not be made public.

Same happens in this country.

[amber-eyed-girl]

You asked the initial question. I replied to it with the relevant information; what was released at the time. It would be up to his family to choose or not, to release any details.

Did you see the documentary he participated in? His views are well known.

[amber-eyed-girl]

According to his publisher, Sir Terry Pratchett died due to a severe chest infection, at his own home. So not in Switzerland.

[polksaladallie]

Who mentioned Switzerland?

[lloydslights]

According to this documentary, Assisted Dying for the British is only legally available in Switzerland.  In Belgium, only Belgians can be legally assisted.

The following film is 59 minutes, where Sir Terry investigates the option, and introduces people who are undergoing the decision-making of choosing this way to die. I believe it is beautifully and sympathetically edited. 

Warning:  The last 15 minutes or so shows Peter Smedley signing forms and confident verbal decision to die, followed by his drug-induced final sleep.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xnu340_terry-pratchett-choosing-to-die_shortfilms 

RIP Sir Terry Pratchett

DEB