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Ramon Sampedro

Ramon Sampedro was a Spanish writer and mechanic who became quadriplegic after a diving accident in 1972 at age 29. He spent the next 26 years petitioning Spanish courts for the right to physician-assisted suicide due to his paralysis and desire not to live disabled. Manuela Sanles, married to Ramon's brother, was his primary caregiver for 25 years but respected his wish to die. Under Spanish law at the time, assisted suicide was illegal due to Catholic influence. Despite appealing his case, Ramon's requests to the courts were denied.

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336 views2 pages

Ramon Sampedro

Ramon Sampedro was a Spanish writer and mechanic who became quadriplegic after a diving accident in 1972 at age 29. He spent the next 26 years petitioning Spanish courts for the right to physician-assisted suicide due to his paralysis and desire not to live disabled. Manuela Sanles, married to Ramon's brother, was his primary caregiver for 25 years but respected his wish to die. Under Spanish law at the time, assisted suicide was illegal due to Catholic influence. Despite appealing his case, Ramon's requests to the courts were denied.

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ThePatient

BornJanuary5th1943inGalicia,Spain,RamnSampedroworkedasamechaniconafishingboatin
NorthernwatersofGalicia.Healsowasawriterandwroteaseriesofpoemsthatwerecollectedandmade
intpthebook"CartasDesdeElInfierno"or"LettersfromHell".Attheageof29hemisjudgedthe
distancewhenjumpingintotheGalicianseaandhithisheadonshallowrock.Thislefthimwitha
fracturedcervicalvertebraandaquadriplegic.Helostbothsensationandcontrolfromtheneckdown.His
familycaredforhimfromthetimeofhisinjurytohisdeathin1998.Ramnwasoncequotedsayingthat
hisfamilywere"physicalandpsychologicalslaves"tohisdisability.Quicklyafterbecomingdisabled
Ramondecidedhewouldratherdiethanliveasaquadriplegic.However,duetohisparalysishewas
unabletokillhimselfwithoutassistance.RamonSampedrothenpetitionedSpain'slowercourts,higher
courts,andfinallytheEuropeanCommissiononHumanRightsfortherighttodie.

TheFamilyMember
Manuela Sanles is married to Ramon Sampedros brother. She was his primary
caregiver for the 25 years he lived with her and her husband. She cared deeply for
Ramon, and only wanted what was best for his well-being. She assisted him in
practically all parts of his daily life, and though caring deeply for him, respected his
wishes to die. However, if she were to aid him in suicide she could be convicted and
sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.

TheSpanishGovernment
The Spanish government has traditionally been influenced by the prominent Roman
Catholic religion so unsurprisingly the legislation is against physician-assisted suicide.
Though there has recently been a Death with Dignity bill proposed in Spain, at the
time of Ramon disease and untimely death, the law was strictly clear on its policy of
assisted death. It was illegal to hasten your death, or to help anyone hasten their own
death. Despite petitioning the courts, Ramons battle was unsuccessful. On12July1995,
heinitiatedanactofnoncontentiousjurisdictionintheCourtofFirstInstanceinNoia,LaCorua,pleading
hisrighttodiewithdignity.Specifically,herequestedthathisdoctorshould,withouthavingcriminal
proceedingsbroughtagainsthim,beauthorizedtosupplyhimwiththesubstancesnecessarytoendhislife.
On9October1995,thecourtdismissedhisrequest,onthegroundthatitwaspunishableunderarticle143of
theSpanishCriminalCodeastheoffenceofaidingandabettingsuicide,carryingapenaltyof2to10years'
imprisonment.AfterthisdecisionRamonmadeattemptstoappealthecase.

Questions??
DoesRamonwinhisbattlewiththecourtsanddiethroughphysician
assistedsuicide?
Ifthecourtsturnhimdownwillhecommitsuicideonhisown?
Whowouldhelphimwiththeillegalsuicide?
DoesRamonsimplydieofcomplicationsduetohisdisability?

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