Wendy Duffy ‘didn’t inform her mum’ about assisted dying plans at Swiss clinic
British woman Wendy Duffy, 56, did not want to tell her mum, who has dementia, about her plans to travel to the Pegasos clinic in Switzerland to end her life – family say the 87-year-old is still unaware
Wendy Duffy’s family have spoken following her passing today(Image: Facebook)
A British woman, who is without a terminal illness, ended her life today (April 24) at a Switzerland assisted dying clinic as her family have heartbrokenly spoken out how one family was unaware of the plans.
Wendy Duffy, a former care worker from the West Midlands, did not tell her mum that she was planning to end her life at the controversial Pegasos, a Swiss assisted dying clinic, after losing her son Marcus, 23, four years ago.
The 56-year-old had gone through therapy and other treatments but had been unable cope with his death. Now a family member has spoken about the “very upsetting” passing of Wendy and revealed her widowed 87-year-old mother, who has dementia, was unaware of Wendy’s plan.
Paula Duffy, who is married to her brother Stephen, last saw Wendy a month before she visited the clinic.
Speaking before she passed, Paula told the Daily Mirror:“ Her mum has dementia, she still lives at home but Wendy didn’t want to tell her. She is not aware.”
She added: “It is something she wanted to do and we couldn’t stop her. She never got back to herself after the death of her son and she didn’t want to carry on. She was very strong willed and if she has something on her mind no one could change it.”
Wendy is believed to have visited her mum to say a final goodbye before travelling to Switzerland.
Speaking just days before her planned death, Wendy 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.”
Wendy recalled the harrowing moment her son lost his life in their home during a Daily Mail interview. Marcus had fallen asleep on the sofa while eating a sandwich following a night out. Wendy had been preparing herself lunch at the time and made a sandwich for Marcus.
When she returned to the room, Marcus was purple. Wendy, who has medical training, believed it was Marcus’s heart and began CPR.
He was rushed to hospital where it was discovered half a cherry tomato had been become stuck in his windpipe. It is believed he fell asleep with food in his mouth.
Despite the tomato being removed, Marcus had been deprived of oxygen for too long and declared was brain dead. Wendy remained with him for five days before his life support was turned off. His organs were donated for transplant.
In the days after his death, Wendy visited the funeral home daily to sit with her son, playing through his Spotify list.
She said: “”In the funeral home, I went in every day, and just sat with him, playing through his Spotify list. I broke when I saw him in there. My boy, on a metal table. You can’t come back from that, you know.
“That’s when I died too, inside,” she said. “I’m not the same person now as I was. I used to feel things. I don’t care about anything any more. I exist. I don’t live.”
Wendy travelled to the clinic alone and died peacefully on Friday morning wearing one of son Marcus’ T-shirts because, she said, ‘it still smells of him’. She reportedly passed away while listening to Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars song Die With A Smile.
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email [email protected], visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
