Quadriplegic Dies Before Court Can Rule

A quadriplegic who went to court seeking the right to end his life because he feared his terminally ill father might die before him died Thursday after being sedated and having his respirator disconnected.

Kenneth Bergstedt, paralyzed from the neck down since a 1969 swimming accident at the age of 10, ended his life before the Nevada Supreme Court acted on his request to sanction his actions.

“He just wanted to go,” said his father, Robert Bergstedt.

A lower court had earlier ruled that Bergstedt had the right to end his life, but asked him to postpone his action until the state Supreme Court could rule.

Bergstedt said he gave his son a dose of Seconal and several tablets of Valium, then loosened the respirator that had been hooked to his trachea.

The Clark County coroner’s office confirmed the death and said an autopsy would be performed.

Las Vegas Police Homicide Lt. Kyle Edwards said his office is investigating the death, but said it would be up to others to decide if any charges could be filed.

Bergstedt’s attorney, Jack Cherry, said the lower court order was still in effect.

“I have a court order saying anyone that helps Kenneth in doing this is not guilty of a crime,” Cherry said.

The elder Bergstedt, an amputee who last month was diagnosed as suffering from terminal lung cancer, has taken care of his son since his wife died of lung cancer in 1979.