Chantal Sébire
Encyclopedia
Chantal Sébire was a retired French
teacher
who suffered from esthesioneuroblastoma
, a rare form of cancer, and fought for the right to die through euthanasia
.
, near Dijon
, France
, and was the mother of three children. In 2000, she was diagnosed with esthesioneuroblastoma
, a rare form of cancer of which only 200 cases have been reported in the past 20 years.
Sébire refused any treatment at the time of her diagnosis, not wishing to take the risk of the surgery or medications. With time, the cancer burrowed through her sinuses, nasal cavities, and eye socket, leaving her face severely disfigured
. She also lost her senses of sight, taste, and smell and suffered severe pain that she refused to relieve with morphine
due to its side effects, stating, "drugs are chemicals, chemicals are poison, and I won't make matters worse by poisoning myself."
Sébire first gained recognition in February 2008 when she made a public appeal to the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy
, to allow her to die through euthanasia
, stating that "One would not allow an animal to go through what I have endured.". On March 17, 2008, she lost her case in a French court, with the magistrate's noting that while French law does allow for the removal of life-support equipment for terminally ill patients, it does not allow a doctor to take action to end a patient's life. After the decision, Sébire said "I now know how to get my hands on what I need, and if I don't get it in France, I will get it elsewhere".
On March 19, 2008, she was found dead in her home. An autopsy conducted on March 21, 2008 concluded that she did not die of natural causes. Subsequent blood tests revealed a toxic concentration of the drug pentobarbital
, a barbiturate
that is not available in French pharmacies but is used elsewhere in the world for the purpose of physician assisted suicide.
Sébire's death revived the debate over euthanasia
in France
and elsewhere around the world.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
who suffered from esthesioneuroblastoma
Esthesioneuroblastoma
Esthesioneuroblastoma is a rare form of cancer involving nasal cavity and believed to arise from the olfactory epithelium. It can cause loss of vision, sight and taste....
, a rare form of cancer, and fought for the right to die through euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
.
Background
Sébire lived in Plombières-lès-DijonPlombières-lès-Dijon
Plombières-lès-Dijon is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in eastern France.-Population:-Personalities:*Chantal Sébire, teacher* Paillet, Julien , 1771-?...
, near Dijon
Dijon
Dijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and was the mother of three children. In 2000, she was diagnosed with esthesioneuroblastoma
Esthesioneuroblastoma
Esthesioneuroblastoma is a rare form of cancer involving nasal cavity and believed to arise from the olfactory epithelium. It can cause loss of vision, sight and taste....
, a rare form of cancer of which only 200 cases have been reported in the past 20 years.
Sébire refused any treatment at the time of her diagnosis, not wishing to take the risk of the surgery or medications. With time, the cancer burrowed through her sinuses, nasal cavities, and eye socket, leaving her face severely disfigured
Disfigurement
Disfigurement is the state of having one's appearance deeply and persistently harmed medically, as from a disease, birth defect, or wound.Disfigurement, whether caused by a benign or malignant condition, often leads to severe psychosocial problems such as negative body image; depression;...
. She also lost her senses of sight, taste, and smell and suffered severe pain that she refused to relieve with morphine
Morphine
Morphine is a potent opiate analgesic medication and is considered to be the prototypical opioid. It was first isolated in 1804 by Friedrich Sertürner, first distributed by same in 1817, and first commercially sold by Merck in 1827, which at the time was a single small chemists' shop. It was more...
due to its side effects, stating, "drugs are chemicals, chemicals are poison, and I won't make matters worse by poisoning myself."
Sébire first gained recognition in February 2008 when she made a public appeal to the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
, to allow her to die through euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
, stating that "One would not allow an animal to go through what I have endured.". On March 17, 2008, she lost her case in a French court, with the magistrate's noting that while French law does allow for the removal of life-support equipment for terminally ill patients, it does not allow a doctor to take action to end a patient's life. After the decision, Sébire said "I now know how to get my hands on what I need, and if I don't get it in France, I will get it elsewhere".
On March 19, 2008, she was found dead in her home. An autopsy conducted on March 21, 2008 concluded that she did not die of natural causes. Subsequent blood tests revealed a toxic concentration of the drug pentobarbital
Pentobarbital
Pentobarbital is a short-acting barbiturate that was first synthesized in 1928. Pentobarbital is available as both a free acid and a sodium salt, the former of which is only slightly soluble in water and ethanol....
, a barbiturate
Barbiturate
Barbiturates are drugs that act as central nervous system depressants, and can therefore produce a wide spectrum of effects, from mild sedation to total anesthesia. They are also effective as anxiolytics, as hypnotics, and as anticonvulsants...
that is not available in French pharmacies but is used elsewhere in the world for the purpose of physician assisted suicide.
Sébire's death revived the debate over euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and elsewhere around the world.