Row over tv film of assisted suicide

A decision to screen the final moments of a terminally-ill British man who chose to commit suicide has been widely criticised.

The documentary is called "A Right to Die".

It shows British university lecturer Craig Ewert committing suicide in 2006.

The 59-year-old had motor neurone disease and was terminally ill.

In an email to his children in America he explained his decision.

ACTUALITY FROM FILM - CRAIG EWERT SAYING (ENGLISH):

"I truly expect that death is the end, that there is no everlasting soul, no afterlife. This is a journey that we all must make at some time."

Craig travelled to Switzerland to die - assisted suicide is illegal in Britain.

The country's Prime Minister wants the law to stay that way.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER GORDON BROWN SAYING:

"I believe that it is necessary to ensure that there is never a case in the country where a sick or an elderly person feels under pressure to agree to an assisted death or that someone feels that this is the expected thing to do."

Anti-euthanasia groups agree.

They've criticised the documentary, calling it "euthanasia voyeurism"

(SOUNDBITE) (English) ROB GEORGE, 'CARE NOT KILLING' ORGANISATION, SAYING:

"There is a PR campaign at the moment in favour of assisted suicide and this is all part of that campaign. There needs to be an opportunity for a debate on both sides of the argument."

Craig died at the Dignitas clinic - another Swiss centre called "Exit" offers a similar service.

(SOUNDBITE) (French) DR. JEROME SOBEL, PRESIDENT OF 'EXIT' ORGANISATION, SAYING:

"For me, the scandal isn't that Dignitas helped these people, it's that people in such difficult situations had to expatriate themselves and couldn't receive assistance to suicide at home, as one can in Switzerland."

Craig's widow told a newspaper her husband wanted to "help allay people's fears about death."

The documentary's maker - Oscar-winner John Zaritsky - said his motives were simply to allow people to "judge for themselves."

Sonia Legg, Reuters