A mother who expressed a desire for death despite not having a terminal illness traveled to a contentious Swiss suicide clinic to end her life, having paid £10,000 to the well-known facility. Wendy Duffy, a 56-year-old former nurse from the West Midlands, flew to Switzerland this week with the intent to take her own life, stating she plans to do so “with a smile on my face” after obtaining approval from the assisted dying center Pegasos last year. Although physically healthy, she is grappling with mental distress following the tragic death of her 23-year-old son, Marcus, who passed away four years ago due to choking on a piece of tomato.
According to Ms. Duffy, medical professionals believe Marcus, who was hungover at the time, likely died after falling asleep with part of a sandwich in his mouth. However, she has never fully recovered from his passing and has chosen to enlist the services of the Swiss suicide clinic Pegasos to facilitate her own death.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Ms. Duffy shared that she turned to Pegasos after a prior suicide attempt, which occurred nine months post her son’s death, resulted in her being placed on a ventilator for two weeks and temporarily disabled. Assisted suicide is legally permitted in Switzerland, where Pegasos is one of the facilities offering such services.
Unlike the more renowned Dignitas, Pegasos, established in 2019 in Basel, has less stringent criteria for accepting potential patients, admitting individuals over the age of 18 regardless of terminal or mental illness. Situated in a luxurious modern estate within the Swiss countryside, the clinic provides rooms where patients can carry out their own deaths. Prospective patients must complete an online application that is meticulously reviewed by Pegasos employees to be considered for approval.
The approval process duration varies based on individual circumstances and application volume, as mentioned by the clinic. While Pegasos does not administer the lethal process, it enables individuals whose applications are accepted to self-administer a lethal solution.
Although it is unnecessary in Ms. Duffy’s case, as she has personally informed her family, Pegasos typically notifies the loved ones of patients who choose to end their lives at the facility. However, an incident last year raised concerns when Pegasos allegedly failed to inform the family of a Welsh woman, Anne, 51, who reportedly utilized their services in 2025. Despite claiming to have made contact attempts, the woman’s brother, John, stated he received no communication, and Anne’s family learned of her death through letters sent from Switzerland.
Following confirmation of the death to the grieving family, Pegasos defended its actions, asserting that they make efforts to inform loved ones of the patient’s intentions to die. The clinic expressed regret if their actions or communication caused distress and emphasized compliance with Swiss laws since their establishment in 2019.
For emotional support, individuals can contact the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person, or access their website.