Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Pioneer's Helium Suicide

Main Category: Multiple Sclerosis
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 23 Jun 2009 - 6:00 PDT

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Police are investigating the suicide of an academic who pioneered treatment for multiple sclerosis but could no longer live with the disease herself.

Cari Loder, 48, a former university lecturer, killed herself at her Surrey home by inhaling helium gas that she had ordered over the internet.

She had also purchased a hood online and had acquired a suicide guide called Final Exit.

Commenting on the sad news, Helen Yates, Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre Chief Executive said, "It is terribly sad news that Cari felt she no longer had a life that was fulfilling enough to carry on. She offered great hope to people with MS at a time where many felt that there were few choices for them to help ease their MS symptoms. Cari was, without doubt, a pioneer in this field and her death is a great loss to the MS Community as a whole. Her family are in all our thoughts at this difficult time"

Detectives believe Loder may have received help and arrested a 70-year-old neighbour soon after her death on June 8. The man was later released on bail.

Source
Multiple Scleroris Resource Centre