Mum's final wish: A journey to Dignitas in Switzerland

In September 2020, a woman in the UK expressed her desire to end her life following a severe stroke that left her unable to live as she wished. Her daughters, Mandy Appleyard and her sister, supported her decision to seek assisted dying at a clinic in Switzerland, which involved significant financial and emotional costs. The journey was fraught with pain and distress, as they had to arrange a private flight due to her disabilities, costing over £10,000. This act of compassion, however, led to a two-year investigation into the daughters for potentially committing a crime under UK law regarding assisted dying. The situation highlights the stark contrast between the legal options available in other countries, where assisted dying is permitted, and the restrictive laws in the UK that criminalize such compassionate actions. The family faced a heartbreaking dilemma: allow their mother to die alone or risk imprisonment by accompanying her. Ultimately, the mother’s wish was to die with dignity, but the legal framework in the UK forced her to endure a painful journey to achieve that wish, raising questions about the need for reform in assisted dying laws.