Famed Director Dies by Assisted Suicide

Legal assisted suicide is gaining acceptance in parts of Europe and North America after the death of Jean-Luc Godard.

According to the New York Times' translation, an attorney for Godard, who died at the age of 91, said that he left because he suffered from multiple disabling pathologies.

An anonymous family member told the French newspaper that the director's illness was more mental than physical.

The family member said that he was exhausted. He decided to end it. It was important for him to know that it was his choice.

The decision was presaged by Godard's own statements about death and dying as well as the observations of the critics.

The auteur was said to be fascinated with suicide and had a razor blade in his wallet. Godard answered "Yes" when asked if he would consider assisted dying, though he admitted it would be a very difficult decision.

Godard's assisted death took place in a Swiss home that he shared with his wife.

France does not allow assisted dying, but it does allow doctors to keep dying patients drugged. Just a few days prior to Godard's death, the president of France announced that the country would soon begin to debate the issue of legalized assisted suicide.

The assisted death of Alex Nichols, a man with hearing loss and depression who sought government consent to end his life against the wishes of his family, was mentioned in an Associated Press report.

When Canada opens up assisted dying for mental health reasons and is considering allowing it for "mature" minor who meet the government's criteria, it will be even more touchier.

In the case of Godard, the coverage seems to reflect a changed attitude towards assisted suicide than it was just a few decades ago, when Jack Kevorkian's "Thanatron" machines led to the assisted suicide-advocating doctor to lose his license.

A lawyer confirms that Jean-Luc Godard chose to end his life.

There is an assisted-suicide chamber approved by authorities.