Faith Sommerfield, aged 82, Founder of the Completed Life Initiative, chose to complete her life on September 27th, 2022 at the Pegasos Swiss Association in Basel, Switzerland. A life-long advocate for a person’s right to self-determination, Faith traveled to Switzerland, where her choice to pursue Voluntary Assisted Dying (“VAD”) is permitted, in order to complete her life.

Faith intended that her choice serve as a model and inspiration for the expansion of individual autonomy in end of life decision-making. Though Medical Aid-in-Dying (“MAiD”) is legal in select states, it is only available for those who suffer from a terminal illness, and is not legal in Faith’s home state of Connecticut for anyone.

Even if MAiD were legal in Connecticut, Faith would not have been eligible to receive MAiD. Were the assisted dying laws in the United States more inclusive of individuals without a terminal illness who reasonably choose to complete their lives, Faith might have chosen to pursue MAiD in the U.S. at a later time, rather than pursuing VAD at this time.

Faith had experienced chronic pain for many years, and chose to complete her life at a time of her choosing, when she had a strong sense of her life being complete while still having both the soundness of mind and physical freedom to end her life on her own terms. The Completed Life Initiative owes its existence and mission to Faith’s extraordinary vision and perseverance.

Tags: aid in dying, assisted death, choice in dying, Derek Humphry, Final Exit, right to die, Switzerland