Barry Duke, the Angry Atheist

Pointing and laughing at religious lunacy for more than half-a-century

Frenchman who died in Switzerland helped bring about the passing of a euthanasia bill in France

Please click this link to help me keep The Angry Atheist active with an donation.

Please click this link to help me keep The Angry Atheist active with an donation.

IN 2021, Alain Cocq, above, who for decades had suffered a painful and incurable degenerative disease, played a major part in a push for the legalisation of euthansia in France when he publicised his intention to travel to Switzerland to end his life.

His unsuccessful battle to be allowed to die with dignity at his home garnered national attention and spurred supporters of assisted dying and euthanasia to redouble their efforts to get the law changed.

The pressure has finally paid off. This week the French National Assembly approved a euthanasia bill, a move that has horrified the Catholic Church.

In a statement released shortly after the vote, the French Bishops’ Conference (CEF) expressed its “deep concern” over the adoption of the bill. While welcoming the Assembly’s support for improved palliative care, the CEF reaffirmed its opposition to the legal institutionalization of euthanasia.

The bishops reiterated arguments they had made in a May 19 statement issued ahead of the vote:

This text, among the most permissive in the world, would threaten the most fragile and call into question the respect due to all human life.

They vowed to continue engaging in the legislative process, which now enters the Senate phase and will return to the Assembly for a second reading later this year.

After Coque’s death his legal representative Sophie Medjeberg said on her Facebook page.

Alain Cocq died this morning … according to his desire, in dignity … finally rest in peace Alain.

Jean-Luc Romero, President of the French Association for the Right to Die with Dignity, said in a video statement on Twitter that Cocq was a fighter who loved life, but that because of constant pain and being unable to take care of himself, he had wanted to die with the help of doctors.

We thank him for transforming his individual fight into a collective fight, so that we finally would have an end-of-life law, so in the future French people no longer need to flee to a foreign country to die in the way they want.

Jean-Luc Romero

Romero said in a video that over the years he had seen people die horrible deaths, and that surveys showed that 9 in 10 French people wanted a change in the law.

Meanwhile, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill appears to be languishing in the wilderness, as does the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.

Readers will have noticed that I’d not posting items on this site for a while. That’s because I was working flat out to finish an autobiography that should be published next month.

It ends thus:

Because I fear decrepitude or incapacitation far more than death, should I fall victim to either I shall opt for euthanasia, using the provisions of Spain’s recently passed euthanasia law, or opting, if possible, for an exit via a remarkable futuristic device called the Sarco pod, the brainchild of Philip Nitschke, an Australian doctor known for advocating assisted suicide since the 1990s. He created it in collaboration with Dutch industrial designer Alexander Bannink.

I can think of no better way of leaving this world than in a streamlined object that looks like a Lamborghini. But without the wheels.

I had the pleasure of meeting Nitschke in Brighton in 2009 when I attended a suicide workshop he held Brighton. The methods he advocated for ending one’s life were effective but somewhat crude, and at the time the large gathering of mainly older people was condemned by mainly Christian organisations deeply opposed to any form of euthanasia.

The workshop, ironically, was held in a church hall after the Langham Hotel in Eastbourne and Brighton Racecourse had cancelled it.

Until the day comes when I cash in my chips I’ll be content with having a wonderfully supportive husband, excellent weather, entertaining books, jazz, blues and satirical country music, and old movies free of all the AI-centred garbage that nowadays passes for entertainment.

One thing is certain. When I do depart this life, there will be no funeral. A document lodged with the Spanish authorities — an Acta de manifestaciones — declares that, when I die, my organs, if they are of any use, should be donated to science and the rest of my remains consigned to a furnace without ceremony of any sort.

Following the death in 1996 of my partner of 21 years, Brian Parry, his ashes were scattered in a magnificent forest surrounding the mountaintop town of Gaudalest, some 22 km from Benidorm. Mine will join his.

When I slide from breath to oblivion, I want laughter, not lamentation. So, I have drawn up a list of humorous atheist songs for whatever farewell is planned for me.

Top of that playlist is John R. Butler’s “The Hand of the Almighty (God Will Fuck You Up)” followed by “Jesus Love Me But He Can’t Stand You” by The Austin Lounge Lizards.

  1. matilddaa's avatar
  2. Broga's avatar
  3. Vanity Unfair's avatar
  4. Broga's avatar
  5. matilddaa's avatar

Please help me keep The Angry Atheist going with a donation.

One-Time
Monthly
Yearly

Make a one-time donation

Make a monthly donation

Make a yearly donation

Choose an amount

€5.00
€15.00
€100.00
€5.00
€15.00
€100.00
€5.00
€15.00
€100.00

Or enter a custom amount

€

Your contribution is appreciated.

Your contribution is appreciated.

Your contribution is appreciated.

DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearly

Barry Duke

, ,
, , , , , ,

8 responses to “Frenchman who died in Switzerland helped bring about the passing of a euthanasia bill in France”

  1. Broga Avatar
    Broga

    Barry: When you go you will leave a more positive, and long lasting, legacy than the religious bigots who so readily criticize atheists. You and I have never met but I have never lost my admiration for the quality of your writing and its finally balanced but strong attacks on religion. I was, as you know, appalled at your treatment by the Freethinker which, on your departure, degenerated into a mushy, mess of boring drivel with no room for contributions. You earned your readership with readers who wanted to hear your views. What was left seemed to expect automatic readership as a right. No chance.

    I look forward to reading your autobiography.

    With every good wish and hope that we are both around for as while yet.

    Broga.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Barry Duke Avatar
      Barry Duke

      Thanks for your kind words, Broga. Shortly before finishing my book I used a site called Ubersuggest that tracks visitor numbers to websites. When I was editor we received around 3,000 hits a day. Ubersuggest reveals the FT, since the beginning of 2025, now attracts a dismal 106 visitors a day. That’s a staggering loss of 89,000 readers.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  2. Broga Avatar
    Broga

    Barry:

    When you were forced for whatever reason to leave the FT I was distressed and that feeling remains. A force for atheism was unjustly removed and I knew, and it is not too much to say this, nothing was there of comparable quality and impact to replace it.

    I suspect, and it is only a suspicion, that the old FT was a bit too uncomfortable a presence for the pro-religion forces. The old FT was also a clear continuing of admirable atheist voices from the past. Not an easy thing to do and you did it.

    Very best wishes.

    Broga.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. malcolmjdodd Avatar
    malcolmjdodd

    Hi Barry

    In recognition of your 24 year legacy at the FreeThinker, I have spoken with Old-Harry, he has reserved an air-conditioned and triple-glazed space for you overlooking the pope-pit with its 266 pregnant pontiffs; the triple-glazing is essential as they are very noisy giving birth and in even more pain when the babies are stuffed back up.

    l loved FT, I used to save my paper copies and send them every year to a friend in Galle, Sri Lanka, a doctor of medicine and an atheist. Just realised that I haven’t received FT for at least 12 months, visited it and when I tried to resubscribe it confirmed that ‘You are already subscribed’ – have the 12 year-olds given up?

    It looks as though our ‘not-really-religious’ [atheist Starmer’s expression (by the way, his father was a tool-maker)] government’s lack of backing for Kim Leadbeater’s bill will see it fail.

    Since my place of birth (Guernsey) rejected assisted death in a 2018 vote, can I come and join you in Spain?

    Like

    Reply
  4. Avatar
    Anonymous

    What these people forget is to consider what happens after death. If they have not repented of their sins and accepted Christ as Lord and Saviour then why will end up in Hell.

    Like

    Reply
    1. Barry Duke Avatar
      Barry Duke

      What people forget, you jackass, that is that no-one existed before their birth and they sure as fuck don’t exist after they die!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
    2. malcolmjdodd Avatar
      malcolmjdodd

      Why is it that fantasizers like you are so embarrassed by their belief in dark-age fairy stories that they have to hide their identity?

      Like

      Reply
    3. malcolmjdodd Avatar
      malcolmjdodd

      A man goes to heaven and is surprised to find a party being given in honour of his arrival.

      “Welcome to heaven” says St Peter, “help yourself to a drink.”

      “I’d rather have something to eat if you don’t mind” says the man.

      “Oh dear” replies St Peter, “that is most unfortunate; Hitler ate all the sandwiches just before you arrived.”

      —————————————————————————————–

      I would not want to be with all of the hypocrites in heaven; my choice is hell where all of my engineering friends will have installed air-conditioning.

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment