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'''Betty and George Coumbias''' were a Canadian married couple who sought to become the first husband and wife to complete simultaneous [[suicides]] with legal authorization. They were featured in John Zaritsky's 2007 documentary, ''The Suicide Tourist''.<ref>[http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Healthy+Vancouver+woman+wants+beside+ailing+husband/1492621/story.html Healthy Vancouver woman wants to die beside her ailing husband], April 14, 2009</ref><ref>[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16912171 'Suicide Tourists' Seek Place to Die] December 5, 2007.</ref> Although assisted suicide is illegal in [[Canada]], they hoped to end their lives with the approval of the government of [[Switzerland]].
The couple's request was unusual in that, while George Coumbias suffers from heart disease, Betty Coumbias was reported to be in excellent health.<ref name="thestar">[http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/667090 Deaths reignite assisted-suicide debate] July 16, 2009</ref>
Ludwig Minelli, director of Swiss assisted-suicide group [[Dignitas (euthanasia group)|Dignitas]], petitioned the [[Canton of Zurich]] to grant doctors the authority to issue lethal drugs to healthy people, after they have been counseled by his organization, hoping to facilitate the Coumbias' suicide pact.<ref
In 2009, Betty Coumbias developed cancer and died, while George continues to live with his heart condition.<ref>http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/suicidetourist/coumbias/</ref>
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