The Resume

(April 29, 1930- )
Born in Bath, England, United Kingdom
Journalist/right-to-die advocate
Founder of the Hemlock Society (1980)
Adviser to the Final Exit Network and the World Federation of Right to Die Societies
Wrote 'Jean's Way' (1978), 'Final Exit' (1991), 'Dying with Dignity' (1992), 'Freedom to Die' (1998), 'The Good Euthanasia Guide' (2006) and 'Good Life, Good Death: Memoir of an Investigative Reporter and Pro-Choice Advocate' (2008)

Why he might be annoying:

After his first wife Jean developed terminal breast cancer, he helped her commit suicide by mixing secobarbital and codeine into her coffee (1975).
Less than a year later, he married Ann Wickett.
He left Ann while she was suffering from breast cancer, informing her of his decision through a message left on their telephone answering machine (1989).
During their bitter split, Ann claimed that Jean actually died when Derek smothered her with a pillow after she started vomiting up the drugs.
'Last Exit' includes instructions on how to fool doctors into prescribing lethal quantities of drugs.
Although it is intended for the terminally ill, 'Last Exit' is available to people who are merely depressed.
He said his books get repeat orders from libraries 'because people are not in a position to return them.'

Why he might not be annoying:

He and Jean adopted a son.
He and Ann both admitted that their marriage had been rocky for several years before her cancer diagnosis.
Ann's cancer had responded to treatment by the time he left her.
He denied smothering Jean.
'Last Exit' contains several statements about the value of counseling and he said, 'My book pleads with the depressed to go to a psychiatrist.'
'USA Today' listed 'Last Exit' as one of its '25 Books That Leave a Legacy.' (2007)

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 34]
• Golden Girls References
• I Adopted a Child
• I Did Not Graduate High School [F-I]
• I Married in 1976
• I Married in 1991
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• My Significant Other Committed Suicide
• Newspaper Journalists/Editors/Publishers
• People Magazine's 25 Most Intriguing People [1991]
• Playboy Interview Subjects [1990s] (Ranked: 1992)
• Profiles 30751-31000 (Ranked: 30885)
• Right-to-Die/Live Icons

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 6 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 14 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 11 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 33 Votes: 78.79% Annoying