Mother grants son’s wish to be put out of his misery

A QUADRIPLEGIC’S dying wish was granted yesterday — a day after his mother injected a lethal dose of barbiturates into his feeding tube.

Vincent Humbert, 22, died in hospital in Berck-sur-Mer, near Calais.

He was left mute, blind, and paralysed after a car crash three years ago and had appealed to French President Jacques Chirac to be allowed to die with dignity. Doctors had tried to revive Vincent when he fell into a coma after his mother, Marie 47, fed him the drugs on the anniversary of the crash. His case has recently been at the centre of a media blitz, programmed by the young man and his mother. They made no secret that a plan for a mercy killing was in place, and Vincent published a book arguing in favour of his right to die.

Before dispensing the fatal dose, Marie Humbert told a newspaper she planned to help her son to die despite assisted suicide being illegal in France.

"The hardest thing will be that I won't be able to mother him or touch him anymore. But if I don't do it, I couldn't look at myself in the mirror," she said.

"When every day your child tells you: 'mother, I can't bear to suffer any more, I beg you, help me' what would you do in my place? If I have to go to prison, I will go."

The mother's actions reopened the debate in France over whether there should be a law making euthanasia legal. Social Affairs Minister Francois Fillon said the question needs to be addressed. Former Health Minister Bernard Kouchner said yesterday he doubts there will ever be unanimity on the subject.

Marie Humbert was questioned by police but has not been placed under investigation.

"I'm really happy, happy that my brother is finally free," said younger brother Laurent Humbert.