A physically healthy woman said she plans to end her life at a Swiss assisted dying clinic due to heartbreak over the death of her child four years ago.
Wendy Duffy, 56, is set to end her life on Friday after Pegasos, a clinic in Basel, reportedly approved her request. The former care worker, from the West Midlands, was almost left in a vegetative state after she had previously attempted suicide, she claimed.
She told the Daily Mail that no amount of therapy had convinced her that life is worth living, as she decided to pay £10,000 to Pegasos, which claims to be a non-profit organisation.
“My life, my choice,” she said. “I wish this was available in the UK, then I wouldn’t have to go to Switzerland at all.”
She told the publication she did not want to attempt suicide again as it “would leave anyone finding me dealing with that for the rest of their lives”. “I don't want to put anyone through that,” she added.
Ms Duffy said her only child, Marcus, 23, died after choking on half a cherry tomato, which became lodged in his windpipe after eating a sandwich.
“They think he must have fallen asleep when he still had food in his mouth,” she told the Daily Mail. “That’s the only comfort, that there was no struggle.”
Her siblings – four sisters and two brothers – have all been alerted by Pegasos of her intentions, she said.
“Pegasos have been in touch with them. I will call them when I get to Switzerland. It will be a hard call where I’ll say goodbye and thank them,” she continued. “But they will get it. They know. Honestly, 100 per cent, they know that I’m not happy, that I don’t want to be here.”
Ms Duffy said she has written letters to all her loved ones, picked out what she is going to wear on her deathbed, and picked a final song to listen to as she dies.
“You can choose whatever song you want,” she explained. “I'm going to go out to Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars singing Die With A Smile.”
Pegasos Swiss Association was founded by Ruedi Habegger, a right-to-die activist, in 2019.
The clinic faced controversy after it helped British citizen Alistair Hamilton, 47, end his life after he stated he was suffering from an undiagnosed health condition. Mr Hamilton told his family that he was going on a short break to Paris, but instead went to Pegasos for assisted suicide.
The clinic later apologised to Mr Hamilton’s mother and said it would change its procedures to ensure that relatives were always informed in future.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will be discussed in the House of Lords on Friday, its final day. It is now not expected to pass during the current session of parliament.
If made into law, it would give people who meet certain criteria in England and Wales the right to end their lives at a time of their choosing, subject to safeguards and protections.
Supporters have said the bill, which passed in the House of Commons last year, has been "slowed by procedural obstruction" in the House of Lords, while critics have raised concerns that the bill in its current form lacked sufficient safeguards for vulnerable people.
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branchIf you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
