Can we make fun of death? Does humour have a place in taking care of the suffering, the dying and in accompanied self-chosen end of life? In a speech, Swiss nurse Margret Füchsle pointed out: “Often, dying people bring in a hefty and almost bizarre humour – dying people are more than dying. No one wants to be seen only at this level in his or her last stage of life.” For many years, at DIGNITAS we make the same experience in our advisory work and in accompanying people in their self-determined ending of their suffering and life. What one feels to be funny, is individual, it’s a matter of personal taste. Those who feel that jokes are inappropriate at life’s end may choose not to read on and leave this website. All others find a small selection of fine humour, hefty satire, politically (in)correct side-swipes, etc in proverbs, cartoons, videos. “Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh!” (George Bernhard Shaw)
Matthew "Matt" Pritchett in 'The Telegraph', UK, 19 March 2024
When Archbishop Desmond Tutu ( >> Link) spoke in favour of assisted dying....
Monty Python: Always Look on the Bright Side of Life (Life of Brian, 1979)
Matthew "Matt" Pritchett in 'The Telegraph', UK
Jesus & Mo ( >> Link) on going to Zürich, 8 March 2013
Ted Rall, The Los Angeles Times, 26 February 2015, in 'The paradox of a government that cavalierly kills people but prevents assisted suicide' ( >>Link)
