Lisa Rinna Reveals Her Father's Assisted Suicide in 2016

Lisa Rinna shared a deep personal reflection about her father's passing on her podcast. On March 28, she revealed that her father, Frank, died by assisted suicide in 2016 at age 94. In the episode of "Let's Not Talk About the Husband," co-hosted with her husband, Harry Hamlin, Rinna described the experience as "so surreal." She shared her feelings of detachment, saying she "didn't feel like I was in my body" during the event, PEOPLE reported.

 During the episode, Rinna expressed her inner conflict. She noted, "You want to support what they want to do, but you're going to watch your parent kill themselves." Hamlin pointed out that Frank's "quality of life had diminished" significantly, which influenced his desire to die. In Oregon, the Death with Dignity Act permits such a choice. Frank "was in pain" and "really unhappy," indicating his struggle with life.

 Rinna explained how the assisted suicide process requires considerable preparation. It took three to six months for her father to secure two doctors' approval for his terminal condition. Assisted suicide, as Rinna described, took place in a "hospice situation" with support from a "death doula." Frank took the final step by drinking a concoction prepared for him, though Rinna identified that it had a very unpleasant taste.

Rinna shared her father's eagerness for the event. She recalled, "The pills were supposed to come on a Tuesday," explaining the anticipation felt by her dad. However, when the pills arrived on Thursday, he expressed frustration over the delay. When the moment came, she and her half-sister assisted him. They set a calming atmosphere, playing Frank Sinatra and soothing music to enhance the setting.

 Yet, Rinna noted an unexpected aspect of assisted suicide: "It doesn't happen right away." After taking the mixture, Frank did not pass immediately; it took about 45 minutes for him to fall asleep. The death doula remained present, equipped with morphine as a precautionary measure, ensuring a peaceful transition.

 Impact In discussing this profound experience, Rinna expressed feelings about the emotional weight of the situation. "The whole experience felt trippy," she said, indicating it was almost dreamlike. Initially, she avoided discussing her father's assisted suicide publicly, attributing it to the emotional pain she experienced during that time.

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