George Exoo
George David Exoo (August 22, 1942–May 26, 2015) was an Ohio-born Unitarian Universalist minister and assisted suicide activist. He was originally a Methodist and had a doctorate in music history from University of California, Berkeley. He became a Unitarian Universalist minister in 1973, but did not appear to be in ministry at the time of his death.
He began his involvement with assisted suicide after a member of his congregation made remarks about a man he'd counselled who had committed suicide.[1] In 1982 he joined the Hemlock Society and later he joined Final Exit Network.[1] The first suicide he assisted occurred in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1995.[2] He claimed to have assisted in 102 other suicides.
Contents
Extradition request from Irish government
In January 2002 the Irish authorities wanted Exoo for assisting the suicide of Rosemary Toole. The United States arrested him, but ultimately refused extradition on the grounds that Irish and American law in this area were not compatible.[3] Exoo declined to attend the inquest into Toole's death on legal advice.[4] He stated, however, that it was unlikely he would work with Irish citizens in the future, as he considered it too dangerous.[4]
Although he had supporters, there were concerns within the right-to-die community that Exoo assisted suicides of individuals who did not have terminal or debilitating illness.[5]
Coverage by Jon Ronson
Jon Ronson profiled him in Channel 4 documentary Reverend Death.[5][6] Exoo claimed to have helped 103 people commit suicide, although Jon Ronson claims that most of Exoo's clients were suffering from depression or psychosomatic illnesses, not terminal illnesses, including Toole.[5]
Property in Gastonia
Exoo bought a property in Gastonia, North Carolina, in 2007, with the intent of using part of it as a place for terminally ill patients to end their lives.[1][7]
Death
Exoo died May 26, 2015, at a hospice in Beckley, West Virginia, at the age of 72.[8]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Los Angeles Times (March 3, 2002)
- ↑ "Her death was unlawful... if Exoo differs I invite him back here to explain why not", PJ Browne, Evening Herald, May 16, 2009; retrieved May 31, 2009
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "I won't be back, says right-to-die reverend" by Jason O'Brien, Irish Independent, May 16, 2009; retrieved May 31, 2009
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "I make it look like they died in their sleep" by Jon Ronson, The Guardian, May 12, 2008
- ↑ Reverend Death
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
