Final Exit Network Die with Dignity Billboards Continue in Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles

PENNINGTON, N.J., June 2, 2011 — Today, Final Exit Network continues the roll-out of billboards on the nation’s highways – Chicago, Denver and in Los Angeles. These follow others that have been placed in San Francisco, Boston, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, New Jersey and Florida.

The message is simply “Irreversible illness? Unbearable Pain? Die with Dignity … Join Final Exit Network.”

Those who view the billboards are encouraged to be in touch with their local media and to share their feelings on the right to a death with dignity.

The boards are being paid for by donations. Final Exit President Jerry Dincin said, “Anyone wishing to make a tax-deductible contribution toward future billboards is welcome to do so by making a donation on the organization’s website.”

Final Exit Network believes that mentally competent adults have a basic human right to end their lives when they suffer from a fatal or irreversible illness they can no longer bear, when their quality of life is personally unacceptable, and the future holds only hopelessness and misery. In such a case, the individual should have the right to make individual choices, including the timing and companion, free of any restriction by the law, clergy , medical profession, even friends and relatives, no matter how well intentioned. Dincin notes, “Only laws in Oregon, Washington and Montana currently allow hastening death at the end of life, while national polls continually show more than 70% of Americans favor an individual’s right to die when medical circumstances warrant.”

The organization offers free service to all members who qualify, providing relevant information, home visits if possible and compassionate counseling for the individual and family. It further promotes the use of advanced directives and other legal instruments to document the intentions of any individual and to increase the likelihood that their wishes at the end of life will be honored.

Final Exit Network’s medical director was recently found innocent last month after being charged with manslaughter in Arizona. The network also has a case pending in Georgia, where the defendants have just initiated an appeal to the Supreme Court of Georgia.