A mother in good health has chosen to end her life at a controversial Swiss facility. Wendy Duffy, aged 56, made the decision to undergo assisted dying at the Pegasos clinic due to her inability to cope with the loss of her son.
Wendy had been preparing for her passing for a year, making arrangements with the clinic, writing farewell letters to her loved ones, selecting her deathbed attire, and choosing the music she wanted to hear as she passed away.
Her son, Marcus, passed away four years ago, and despite seeking therapy, Wendy found life unbearable without him. She expressed her deep sorrow, stating, “When Marcus died, I died too, inside.”
Before traveling to the clinic, Wendy expressed her firm resolve to proceed with her decision, emphasizing that it was her choice to make. She shared her wish to die with a smile on her face and urged her family to be happy for her.
Pegasos, a Swiss facility specializing in assisted dying, considers psychiatric cases without physical illnesses, provided they meet strict criteria of severe, long-lasting, and treatment-resistant conditions. Wendy’s case underwent a thorough evaluation by a panel of experts, including psychiatrists, before receiving approval.
Following her passing, Wendy’s ashes will be returned to her family for scattering by her son’s memorial bench. Wendy’s relatives were aware of her decision to seek assistance at Pegasos but were not informed of the exact timing to protect them emotionally.
In the UK, assisted dying legislation is limited to terminally ill individuals with a prognosis of six months to live and in sound mental health. Wendy’s case would not have been accepted at Dignitas, another renowned facility in Switzerland.
Wendy expressed her final wishes, requesting that the windows be open during her passing to allow her spirit to be free. She recounted her ongoing struggle with the loss of her son, despite attempting therapy and medication to cope with her grief.
The founder of Pegasos confirmed Wendy’s assisted dying procedure was carried out as per her wishes and without incident. The facility operates as a non-profit organization, adhering to Swiss laws that prohibit profiting from assisted death.
For those struggling with emotional distress, support services like The Samaritans are available 24/7. They can be reached via phone at 116 123, email at jo@samaritans.org, or through their website.
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