French woman, 100, on hunger strike for right to die
A 100-year-old French woman from northeast France is on a hunger strike to fight for her right to die, in the hope that her actions may also help others to 鈥渄ie with dignity鈥�.
H茅l猫ne Wuillemin, from the commune of Laxou (Meurthe-et-Moselle, Grand Est) turned 100 on March 6 this year. She is now on hunger strike to call for her right to choose to die.
The former teacher, who raised her two children as a single mother, suffers from pain in her legs, which is becoming 鈥渕ore and more difficult to bear鈥�, she says, and struggles to get out of bed to sit by the window in her home. She uses an electric wheelchair.
Ms Wuillemin says she now wishes to die.
She explained to : 鈥淲e all have to die one day, so why wait until I am 107 to die? At my age, 100, it鈥檚 OK to die.
鈥淚 have just turned 100. I wish I hadn鈥檛, but unfortunately I continue to live. Recently, I haven鈥檛 been doing anything. I watch a bit of TV, play some games, and that鈥檚 it. And then it starts all over again. I just sleep more and more, even though the end may be near. That鈥檚 what I hope."
Ms Wuillemin has sought out euthanasia services in Switzerland and Belgium - but without success, as she is not technically ill - and does not want to commit suicide.
She said: 鈥淚 do not dare to kill myself; the idea of cutting my wrists disgusts me.鈥�
The centenarian explained that she had told her son and daughter of her hunger strike. She said: 鈥淚 told her, 鈥業鈥檓 stopping eating鈥�. She didn鈥檛 reply; what could she have said? She knows that I will do whatever I want, she knows me.鈥�
Ms Wuillemin has stuck symbols of her 鈥渟trike鈥� on to a wall opposite her bed. These include a drawing of a red heart, next to the word 鈥�尝颈产别谤迟茅 (Freedom)鈥�, and a hand-written note explaining her cause.
She said: 鈥淚 hope that this will be useful, that is why I am speaking to you [the press]. I want this to help others, because there are so many people who would like to die with dignity and who cannot. I hope that my case helps, and opens people鈥檚 minds.鈥�
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