{"id":2705,"date":"2016-04-22T00:43:25","date_gmt":"2016-04-21T16:13:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/exitinternational.net\/?p=2705"},"modified":"2016-04-22T18:14:21","modified_gmt":"2016-04-22T09:44:21","slug":"exit-life-member-emeritus-professor-avril-henry-suicides-at-81","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.euthanasia.net\/exit\/exit-life-member-emeritus-professor-avril-henry-suicides-at-81\/","title":{"rendered":"Exit Life Member Emeritus Professor Avril Henry Suicides at 81"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0Campaigner:\u00a0Dr Avril Henry, 82, an advocate of assisted suicide, has been found dead days after a police raid sparked by an Interpol alert that she had imported euthanasia drugs from Mexico<\/strong><\/p>\n

An 82-year-old professor has died days after police kicked down her door when Interpol traced assisted suicide drugs to her Devon cottage from Mexico.<\/p>\n

Retired academic Dr Avril Henry, 82, appears to have conned officers into believing they had confiscated all her killer drugs on Saturday and was found dead yesterday.<\/p>\n

Dr Henry was professor of English Medieval Culture at the University of Exeter until 2000 and also a member of Exit International, which advocates the legalisation of assisted dying.<\/p>\n

It is run by campaigner ‘Dr Death’ Philip Nitschke, once banned from medicine and known for selling home euthanasia kits, who today said the authorities tried to ‘make her last days on this earth a misery’.<\/p>\n

He has also published her suicide note and a medical report claiming it proves she was ‘rational’ when she died.<\/p>\n

She was not terminally ill but had a number of health problems, he said.<\/p>\n

The note says she had planned it for a year and left instructions on how to deal with her body and where she wants to be buried.<\/p>\n

Dr Nitschke said: ‘On Tuesday afternoon, she took the remainder of her imported [drugs] that the police had not discovered, and died peacefully.’<\/p>\n

In a letter to Dr Nitschke, sent shortly before her death, she talked of her anxiety that there would be further police raids, and that she might lose her remaining drug.<\/p>\n

Dr Nitschke said: ‘Police need to realise that in the UK, suicide is not a crime, and mental health authorities need to recognise that not everyone who seeks to end their life is in need of psychiatric intervention.<\/p>\n

‘Her death was a clear case of “rational suicide” and her decision to die at her own time and in her own place should have been respected.<\/p>\n

‘As it is the authorities did everything they could to make her last days on this earth a misery.’<\/p>\n

Dr Nitschke said that in light of events in Exeter, Exit International would be contacting its 1,000-plus UK members warning them of Interpol’s growing interest in stemming the flow of the euthanasia drug into the UK.<\/p>\n

Her purchase was flagged on Saturday night by an Interpol official in Manchester and police in Exeter in Devon were sent to her rural home to check on her well-being.<\/p>\n

Dr Nitschke said Dr Henry had a series of illnesses and conditions over the years which had made her life a ‘complete misery’.<\/p>\n

They included chronic ear infections and tinnitus, high blood pressure that led to cardiac and renal problems, swelling feet, incontinence and urinary infections.<\/p>\n

He said: ‘She had a formidable reputation as an academic of many years standing, but her health had drastically deteriorated recently.<\/p>\n

‘She had no one terminal illness but had a myriad of problems.<\/p>\n

‘I had a couple of visits to see her and it did not surprise me when she approached me about travelling to Switzerland.<\/p>\n

‘Even though she had no terminal illness, the Swiss clinic saw her medical records and had no problem accepting her.’<\/p>\n

Dr Nitschke said she also needed to wear special clothes and bedding and her mobility was impaired and deteriorating to such an extent she was almost in a wheelchair.<\/p>\n

She also had respiratory problems and needed a specialist mask to sleep.<\/p>\n

He added: ‘She described her life as becoming a complete misery. She showed me she could not lift anything and was living an impossible existence.<\/p>\n

‘It got to the point she did not have a life she wanted to live. She was living on her own and there is no known family. But she did have a lot of friends.<\/p>\n

‘They all knew her in the village so she was not isolated.’<\/p>\n

Dr Nitschke has also published her suicide note, which was found by police on Saturday when they believed they had her drugs.<\/p>\n

It said that police should know that her assisted suicide was ‘laboriously planned’ for 12 months and said there was no need for a post-mortem examination because ‘no murder has been committed’.<\/p>\n

She added that she would kill herself in the bath and would leave antiseptic liquid for anyone who found her to clear up.<\/p>\n

Dr Nitschke said Dr Henry had a series of illnesses and conditions over the years which had made her life a ‘complete misery’.<\/p>\n

Devon and Cornwall Police say her death was not being treated as suspicious.<\/p>\n

A spokesman said: ‘Devon and Cornwall Police attended an address in Brampford Speke on the 15th April following concerns for the welfare of a person within the property, and therefore entrance was forced.<\/p>\n

‘No criminal issues were highlighted during this incident and the matter was left in the hands of medical and mental health professionals.<\/p>\n

‘Police were called to the same address in Brampford Speke on the 20th April following reports of a body of a woman in her 80’s being discovered.<\/p>\n

‘This death isn’t currently being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner.’<\/p>\n

Ambulance crews visited Avril on Saturday night after they were alerted by police to her purchase of euthanasia drugs, and they also found a suicide note at her home.<\/p>\n

A call incident report of the encounter that began at 10pm and continued for several hours hours, says they found a ‘very difficult situation’ and were reluctant to leave the pensioner on her own.<\/p>\n

The report said: ‘Very difficult situation. This lady has ordered an online suicide medication. The police have tracked the package to her house. This medication is in the house but can’t be found.<\/p>\n

‘Complicated past medical history. Suicide note in the house. Carers aware of intent\/suicidal thoughts.<\/p>\n

‘Crew feel she has full capacity so can’t be moved to a place of safety. Has declined crisis team.<\/p>\n

‘Crew don’t feel happy leaving this lady on her own.’<\/p>\n

The comments below have been moderated in advance<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Dundee Bob, Dundee, United Kingdom, 2 minutes ago<\/strong><\/p>\n

As usual plod tries to interfere. As said its not a crime to commit suicide<\/em><\/p>\n

The Prof, ottawa, Canada, 4 minutes ago<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not much different her although assisted death has just been made legal, BIG problem though you have to be terminal and close to the end. recently a man sought death assistance only to be told “You are not sick enough” after 6 weeks of refusing food he was re-examined and told “OK you are now sick enough” two days later was helped on his way. Why the hell do politicians,lawyers, church leaders etc. allow people to suffer?<\/em><\/p>\n

Sue, London, United Kingdom, 5 minutes ago<\/strong><\/p>\n

What a dignified and brave lady. You outwitted them all and did it your way. Rest In Peace Dr Henry.<\/em><\/p>\n

JennyH, Winchester, 7 minutes ago<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was her choice. It is up to the individual as to when they want to go. No-one else’s business.<\/em><\/p>\n

loughtontony, london, 11 minutes ago<\/strong><\/p>\n

What a brave lady, i watch my mother and father in law with sadness as they enter a nursing home, no amount of help her family or carer’s will allow them the dignity of seeing the last years of there life’s in there own home, what kind of life do you have when you cant even go to the toilet on your own , i hope i have the courage of avril when my time comes.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0SanLorenz, Nottingham, United Kingdom, 12 minutes ago<\/strong><\/p>\n

She cocked-a-snoop at the interfering police at the end though didn’t she, good for her. How dare they break down the door of this lady. It was her life and her choice so butt out!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0somerandombloke, Somewhere south of there., United Kingdom, 12 minutes ago<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just what I will be doing, when the time is right. I have an Aunt who has been shoved into a home, by my cousin, because the old lady was a nuisance at home. This will not happen to me.<\/em><\/p>\n

ifnotequalzero, London, United Kingdom, 20 minutes ago<\/strong><\/p>\n

This will be common practice in years to come. Everyone has a choice whether to live or die.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0uncool phil, Bristol, United Kingdom, 20 minutes ago<\/strong><\/p>\n

*Bless*, and RIP<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0Campaigner:\u00a0Dr Avril Henry, 82, an advocate of assisted suicide, has been found dead days after a police raid sparked by an Interpol alert that she had imported euthanasia drugs from Mexico An 82-year-old professor has died days after police kicked down her door when Interpol traced assisted suicide drugs to her Devon cottage from Mexico. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n