Ruth Langsford: I’d take Eamonn off to Dignitas
RUTH Langsford yesterday vowed to help her husband eamonn Holmes commit suicide if he was diagnosed with a terminal or degenerative illness.
broadcaster Holmes, 58, earlier revealed that he would rather end his life at a suicide clinic like dignitas than suffer dementia.
Fellow TV host Miss Langsford said she would ‘want to help’ her husband to take his own life if that was his decision. She told iTV’s Loose Women: ‘He’s always said “Just take me somewhere, i just couldn’t live like that” and [asked] whether i would support that, which i would, because i know that’s his wish.
‘i’m not saying i would find that easy. i’m sure anybody who ends up having to do that for a family member never finds it easy. but because i know him so well he would find life with a terminal illness just not worth living. And because i love him i’d want to help him.’
Admitting it was a controversial topic, Miss Langsford, 58, called for assisted suicide to be legalised to give terminally ill people the right to die in their own homes.
Assisted dying is currently legal in several european countries, such as Switzerland - home of dignitas – and some states in America.
dignitas, founded in 1998, has reportedly helped more than 2,000 people end their lives. They often have severe physical or mental illnesses.
The process has to be cleared by an independent doctor with suicidal people proving they are of sound judgement. in an interview with best magazine last week, This Morning host Holmes admitted he had told his family to take him to a suicide clinic if he develops a degenerative condition.
He said: ‘i genuinely say to all my children and my wife “Take me to Switzerland and press the red button”. That is what i want. i have no desire to lose my dignity. i just don’t want that to happen to me. However controversial that may sound, that is my genuine wish.’
Holmes has 30 per cent hearing loss. Studies have shown this means he is at a higher risk of developing dementia.