Healthy but heartbroken mother gives moving account on assisted dying decision

She came forward publicly to highlight what she describes as the "unfairness" of current laws, sparking intense reactions across the assisted dying debate in the UK.

The former care worker from the West Midlands, has paid £10,000 to end her life at Pegasos after losing her son Marcus, 23, in a tragic accident four years ago.

She has not been able to recover from his death despite years of therapy and antidepressants.

Speaking days before her death, she said: "I won't change my mind. I know it's hard for you, sweetheart. It will be hard for everyone.

"But I want to die, and that's what I'm going to do. And I'll have a smile on my face when I do, so please be happy for me. My life, my choice - I can't wait."

Ms Duffy withheld the precise timing from family members, to shield them from potential criminal investigation or prosecution should they accompany or assist her.

Ms Duffy’s son tragically choked on a sandwich his mother had made for him after he fell asleep, hungover, on the living room sofa. After passing out, he was deprived of oxygen for too long and was rushed to hospital.

She stayed by his side for five days before his life support was switched off - an experience that led to a mental health spiral from which she has never fully recovered.

Ms Duffy's application underwent months of rigorous assessment by a panel, including psychiatrists, who reviewed her complete medical records before determining her suffering met Pegasos criteria.

The clinic's founder, Ruedi Habegger, said: "There is a red line that we cannot cross, otherwise it is not assisted suicide - you could actually call it murder."

Pegasos operates as a non-profit organisation under Swiss law, which prohibits profiting from assisted death, with clients - including Britons - covering medication, medical fees and funeral expenses.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is anticipated to fail during this parliamentary session as the House of Lords faces a Friday deadline without sufficient time to complete its deliberations.

Supporters of the legislation have accused opponents of deploying procedural manoeuvres to obstruct its passage, with more than 1,000 amendments submitted in the upper chamber.

Kim Leadbeater, the MP who introduced the Private Members' Bill in October 2024, told demonstrators it was "wrong, democratically and morally, that the House of Lords have talked the Bill out and allowed it to fall".

The legislation has secured Commons approval on two occasions, though the second vote produced a slimmer majority.

To reach the statute book, the Bill required completion of further revising stages in the Lords by Friday to enable both Houses to agree final wording.

Those opposing changes to assisted dying legislation argue that Ms Duffy's case demonstrates the dangers of legalisation.

Alistair Thompson, spokesman for Care Not Killing, reffered to the case as "tragic", and pointed to the real dangers of legalising assisted suicide and euthanasia.

He noted international examples, including individuals with diabetes, eating disorders, and even concerns about ageing who have sought assisted deaths, as well as a Canadian case involving a homeless man.

"Once you legalise assisted killing, it is only a matter of who is eligible, when they are eligible, and you end up with tragic and heartbreaking cases like this," Mr Thompson said.

Labour MP Rachel Maskell, who voted against the Bill, called for greater investment in trauma-informed grief support rather than ending one's life.

"Nothing could be more tragic than losing your own child in unexpected circumstances, but Wendy's story highlights why far more needs to be invested into trauma management," she said.

For more information or assistance on this topic, contact Samaritans, day or night, 365 days a year, for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.