Widow who helped husband's suicide at Dignitas says she has 'no regrets'

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A widow who took her husband to Dignitas in Switzerland for a ‘peaceful death’ has spoken out and said she has no regrets.

Louise Shackleton,took her husband Anthony,who had motor neurone disease for six years,to the end of life clinic in December.

She is currently under investigation by North Yorkshire Police after she surrendered herself and admitted to a crime.

In the UK,assisted dying,both euthanasia and assisted suicide,is currently illegal as parliament prepares to vote again on legislation to introduce assisted dying in England and Wales.

Once on the flight to Switzerland,Louise said her husband was ‘physically and mentally’ relaxed.

She told Sky News: ‘We had the most wonderful four days.

The assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland Dignitas (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)

‘He was laughing. He was at total peace with his decision.

‘It was in those four days that I realised that he wanted the peaceful death more than he wanted to suffer and stay with me,which was hard,but that’s how resolute he was in having this peace.

‘I was his wife,we’d been together 25 years,we’d known each other since we were 18. I couldn’t do anything else but help him.’

Anthony died aged 59 and was a furniture restorer known worldwide for making rocking horses.

The assisted dying bill would allow a person with less than six months to live to legally end their life with the approval of an expert panel and two doctors.

MPs have been given more time to consider the current amendments so it has been delayed by three weeks.

It passed its second reading with a majority of 55 at the end of November last year.

Leaving her husband behind in Switzerland,Louise described feeling a sense of ‘panic’.

She said that if the law had changed in this country,then Anthony’s family would have been around him.

Organisations like Dignity in Dying campaign for the right of terminally ill,mentally competent adults to have the option of assisted dying.

Its chief executive Sarah Wootton told Metro: ‘Louise and Anthony’s experience is proof that the blanket ban on assisted dying is failing dying people and their loved ones.

‘That British membership of Dignitas has risen more than 50% in the last five years shows there is a demand for choice that is only increasing.

‘For those who cannot afford the £15,000 this costs,some are left to suffer as they die,despite good care,or to take matters into their own hands. It is unacceptable that these are the choices dying people face in this country.

‘Thankfully,MPs are recognising that the status quo is untenable,and we are closer than ever before to giving the choice that two thirds of us are calling out for.

‘When MPs and MSPs come to cast their votes in the coming weeks,they must remember people like Louise and Anthony and the thousands of others who have been let down by the blanket ban,who are depending on them to change this law.’

But assisted dying is a controversial issue,with organisations like Care Not Killing advocating for improved palliative care rather than the legalisation of euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Backbench Labour MP Kim Leadbeater,who proposed the landmark private member’s bill on assisted dying (Picture: Getty Images)

Dr Gordon Macdonald,CEO of the organisation,told Metro: ‘No one who hears this tragic case,his fear of dying and being a burden could fail to be moved – but stories like this also highlight how dangerous it would be to rip up long held universal protections that protect lives.

‘At a time when we have seen how fragile our health care system is,how the hospice movement has a £100million black hole in its budget,and when up to one in four Brits who would benefit from palliative care aren’t currently receiving it,I would suggest this should be the focus of attention.

‘This is a view that seemed to be shared by Parliament’s health and social care committee report,which last year did not recommend changing the law,but did recommend trying to fix the UK’s broken and patchy palliative care system so everyone can have a dignified death.’

Louise said there should be a ‘safeguard’ for people and that there should be ‘respect for other people and other people’s wishes’.

She added that Anthony made her promise that she would tell his story and to fight for ‘dying people’s choice’.

Campaigners react after a parliamentary vote was passed in support of assisted dying in November (Picture: Getty Images)

The news comes after the Isle of Man voted to approve the legislation of assisted dying.

The island is the first part of the British Isles to take the step following a landmark vote in the capital of Douglas.

In its current state,the law will only apply to people who have lived on the Irish Sea island for five years or more who have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of no more than 12 months and who have a ‘settled intention’ to end their life.

Doctors will also be allowed to opt in,after the British Medical Association called for medical professionals to be able to choose whether to provide the service.