"Responsible dying" advocate dies at 77

Apr 20 2009 3:24PM
Associated Press
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SHERIDAN, Mont. (AP) Retired University of Montana philosophy professor Richard Gotshalk, who suffered a debilitating illness and advocated "responsible dying," has died at his home in Sheridan.

Gotshalk's partner, Doris Fischer, says he had declined food and water.

Gotshalk suffered ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), which also is known as Lou Gehrig's disease and is incurable. The University of Montana, from which he retired, confirms that he died on Thursday.

In a letter published in the Missoulian on April 10, Gotshalk wrote that "responsible dying does not mean clinging to life beyond the point when your capacities to give to others have virtually disappeared." He wrote that his capacities in that respect had "faded to nothing." Gotshalk was 77.