Physically healthy mom dies by euthanasia at Swiss assisted suicide clinic
The physically healthy British mom, irreparably heartbroken over the death of her only son, died by euthanasia in Switzerland on Friday.
Wendy Duffy, 56, died at the Pegasos assisted suicide clinic in Basel, in what the controversial organization called a “sane suicide,” the Daily Mail reported.
“I can confirm that Wendy Duffy, at her own request, was assisted to die on April 24 and that the procedure was completed without incident and in full compliance with her wishes,” said Ruedi Habegger, the founder of Pegasos, an assisted-dying nonprofit organization.
“I can also confirm that neither we nor any of the professional staff assessing her mental capacity had any doubt as to her intention, understanding, and independence of both thought and action,” he added.
“In historical terms at English law, hers was a case of ‘sane suicide.’”
Duffy, a former care worker from the West Midlands, paid Pegasos $13,500 to end her own life in Switzerland, where assisted suicide is legal. Her death came on the same day a hotly debated right-to-die bill failed in British parliament.
She said earlier this week that suicide is the only way her “spirit can be free” from the grief of losing her son four years ago.
Duffy revealed that on her deathbed she would wear one of her late son’s shirts because “it stills like him.”
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With A Smile” would be playing as she passes on, she said. She requested that all the belongings she brought with her be donated.
Duffy’s son, Marcus, died at the age of 23 after choking on a tomato that became lodged in his windpipe after he fell asleep while eating a sandwich.
Nine months later, Duffy tried to kill herself by overdosing and had to be put on a ventilator for two weeks.
She said that despite years of trying, no amount of medication or therapy can make her whole again and said that she “can’t wait” to die.
“It will be hard for everyone. But I want to die. I’ll have a smile on my face when I do, so please be happy for me. My life; my choice,” Duffy said.
Duffy believes Marcus would understand her choice.
She said she preferred a “neater” death at the Swiss clinic rather than leave behind a grisly scene.
“I could step off a motorway bridge or a tower block, but that would leave anyone finding me dealing with that for the rest of their lives,” she said.
Duffy’s decision to die in spite of her physical health comes after a 25-year-old sexual gang rape victim, Noella Castillo, took her own life by assisted suicide in Spain last month.
Castillo’s suicide sparked an international uproar and prompted the Trump administration to order the US embassy in Madrid to investigate Spanish law enforcement’s handling of the brutal sexual assault.
The State Department expressed “serious concerns” with Spain’s “many systemic human rights failures” that led Castillo to seek out assisted suicide and allowed the terminal act to be performed even after she reportedly “expressed hesitancy” in her final hours, according to a diplomatic message obtained by The Post.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
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