Rmy Salvat
Rmy Salvat (1984-2008) was a young French man, suffering from a serious illness and whose suicide in August 2008 has rekindled the debate on euthanasia in France.
Summary |
History
Rmy Salvat was reached since the age of six years of a mitochondrial disease (degenerative rare) slow but inexorable. In 2000, after a diagnostic error of nearly 10 years, the disease has been confirmed as mitochondrial (references: Alliance Rare Diseases Acts-Forum April 26, 2002-Speaking Association Action Rmy).
At the age of 16, the boy showed signs of a clinical syndrome acronym SANDO (syndrome of cerebellar ataxia, peripheral neuropathy, dysarthria and ophthalmoplegia external) which were associated with the Central Nervous System (leukodystrophy , thalamic lesions etc ...)
In 2005, thanks to advances in genetics, the mutation causing the disease was identified. It concerns the gene POLG (polymerase gamma, mitochondrial enzyme) located on chromosome 15 (15q25). This mutation is observed in the syndrome Alpers' (Alpers' disease) , ataxias and syndromes of CFS (external ophthalmoplegia). The expression of this mutation was of the most severe in the young Remy was salvat.Il not only end up quadriplegic but his brain would be destroyed with a heart can beat long.
Faced with the inexorable advance of his disease, he wished to participate in a pilgrimage to Lourdes, held in spring 2008 by the Diocese of Pontoise. His father accompanied him. In May 2008 he wrote a letter to President Nicolas Sarkozy to demand the right to die when his illness would make him a "prisoner of his body" to the brain destroyed. . In a story filmed by the director of the Marie-Pierre Raimbault, the young man had read and signed the letter. This report was distributed at the show "Crisis - Handicap: investigation of a French scandal" on France 2 in September 2008. .
Excerpts from the letter to the President:
- "Like Vincent Humbert , I ask at this point let me die for me free of my suffering. "Rmy Salvat had written in his letter.
- "I know that in France there is no law that allows medical teams to practice euthanasia. This prevents me from living in peace (...) It is necessary that the law changes! "He added.
- "The problem is that you, Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy, you do not want to hear about it. I, Rmy Salvat, I ask you to leave aside your personal opinion and stop being deaf. You can if you're the president of all French people, "he concluded.
On 6 August, the young man received a response from the head of state.
- "For reasons of personal philosophy, I think it is not ours, we do not have the right to voluntarily discontinue life" the president said, adding:
- "But I do not want to escape my responsibilities (...) I would like to be privileged dialogue at the bedside, between himself, the doctor and the family, so that all humanity is found the best solution for every situation . "
Rmy Salvat committed suicide by overdosing on drugs the night of 9 to 10 August 2008.
Case Rmy Salvat
It can evoke a "matter Rmy Salvat" before opening an investigation conducted by the prosecutor of Pontoise 3 days after the death of a young man. Indeed:
In 1999, his mother reportedly tried to end the suffering of her son who was 14 years to "end suffering." . Indictment for attempted murder, she had received a non-place .
- August 10, 2008: Finding of death by ambulance to 9:15. Authorization to transport the body issued (after passing the homes of parents) by Noelle Lenoir, the mayor of Valmondois. This transport was provided by the funeral of L'Isle-Adam and around 13 hours.
- The morning of August 13, 2008: Publication of facts in the national press.
- 13 August 2008 to 18 hours: Call Noelle Lenoir , the mayor of Valmondois, recorded by the local gendarmerie. .
- 13 August 2008 8:15 p.m.: The SRPJ Versailles tells the family entering the body of the young man for "autopsy and investigation of causes of death." .
Faced with opposition to incineration, Master Richard Caty, Bar Pontoise, also a lawyer Lydia Debaine has assisted parents, Regina and Jean-Pierre Salvat.
- December 2008: The Return of the investigation has reached the floor of Pontoise "no representation without calling into question the nolle prosequi." He confirmed the suicide of a young man but also his insight regarding the seriousness of his illness in the medical and psychiatric report requested additional information by the prosecutor of Pontoise.
- June 2009: The family lawyer, Richard Caty, gained access to the file after many retries performed with prosecutors in December 2008. Included is the full transcript of the hearing of Nolle Lenoir, a witness heard August 15, 2008 by SRPJ Versailles. In these declarations, signed by him, it says. "Writing in progress ...." opposite response in writing courses.
Last will Rmy Salvat
On a K7-audio recording (captured by the prosecution), Rmy Salvat calls "the debate on euthanasia is not thrown into the water" and that "the battle for assisted suicide continues." .
In January 2010, his parents, Regina and Jean-Pierre Salvat, have joined the association ADMD (Association for the Right to Die in Dignity). They hope to show the history of their son and allow changes in current law that prohibits euthanasia in France.
Akidoka, Remy has also requested that his ashes be scattered in Japan, home of the founder of Aikido , Master Morihei Ueshiba. In June 2009, her parents made a pilgrimage in the Kii peninsula (Japan - Tanabe) on the roads of the Kumano Kodo. A ceremony in memory of their son was celebrated June 11, 2009 at Mount Koya San, mecca Buddhism traditional Shingon. A monument to the memory of the young man is kept in the temple of the monastery Eko In to Koyasan.
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