George Exoo
Encyclopedia
George Exoo is an Ohio
-born former Unitarian Universalist minister and assisted suicide
activist. He was originally a Methodist and has a doctorate in music history from University of California, Berkeley
. He became a Unitarian Universalist minister in 1973, but is apparently no longer in ministry.
He began his involvement with assisted suicide after a member of his congregation made remarks about a man he'd counselled had committed suicide. In 1982 he joined the Hemlock Society
and later he joined Final Exit Network
. The first suicide he assisted occurred in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
in 1995. He claims to have assisted in 102 more suicides since that one.
Although he has supporters, there have been concerns within the right-to-die community that Exoo assisted suicides of individuals who did not have terminal or debilitating illness.
profiled him in Channel 4
documentary Reverend Death. 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.
in 2007, with the intent of using part of it as a place for terminally ill patients to end their lives.
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
-born former Unitarian Universalist minister and assisted suicide
Assisted suicide
Assisted suicide is the common term for actions by which an individual helps another person voluntarily bring about his or her own death. "Assistance" may mean providing one with the means to end one's own life, but may extend to other actions. It differs to euthanasia where another person ends...
activist. He was originally a Methodist and has a doctorate in music history from University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. He became a Unitarian Universalist minister in 1973, but is apparently no longer in ministry.
He began his involvement with assisted suicide after a member of his congregation made remarks about a man he'd counselled had committed suicide. In 1982 he joined the Hemlock Society
Hemlock Society
The Hemlock Society USA was a national right-to-die organization founded in Santa Monica, California by Derek Humphry in 1980. Its primary missions included providing information to dying persons and supporting legislation permitting physician-assisted suicide. In 1992, following the publication of...
and later he joined Final Exit Network
Final Exit Network
The Final Exit Network is an American all-volunteer organization that offers counseling, support, and guidance in a successful suicide to individuals who are suffering from an intolerable illness. The organization believes that individuals suffering from intolerable illnesses deserve a dignified...
. The first suicide he assisted occurred in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
in 1995. He claims to have assisted in 102 more suicides since that one.
Extradition request from Irish government
In January 2002 the Irish authorities wanted him 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. Exoo declined to attend the inquest into Toole's death on legal advice. He stated, however, that it was unlikely he would work with Irish citizens in the future, as he considers it too dangerous.Although he has supporters, there have been concerns within the right-to-die community that Exoo assisted suicides of individuals who did not have terminal or debilitating illness.
Coverage by Jon Ronson
Jon RonsonJon Ronson
Jon Ronson is a Welsh journalist, documentary filmmaker, radio presenter and nonfiction author, whose works include The Men Who Stare At Goats. His journalism and columns have appeared in British publications including The Guardian newspaper, City Life and Time Out magazine...
profiled him in Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
documentary Reverend Death. Exoo claimed to have helped 103 people commit suicide, although Jon Ronson
Jon Ronson
Jon Ronson is a Welsh journalist, documentary filmmaker, radio presenter and nonfiction author, whose works include The Men Who Stare At Goats. His journalism and columns have appeared in British publications including The Guardian newspaper, City Life and Time Out magazine...
claims that most of Exoo's clients were suffering from depression or psychosomatic illnesses, not terminal illnesses, including Toole.
Property in Gastonia
Exoo bought a property in Gastonia, North CarolinaGastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is also the third largest suburb of the Charlotte Area, behind Concord and Rock Hill. The population was 71,226 as of Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina,...
in 2007, with the intent of using part of it as a place for terminally ill patients to end their lives.