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British Woman Recounts Husband’s Final Moments at Dignitas for Assisted Suicide
A British woman, currently under police investigation for accompanying her terminally ill husband to a Dignitas clinic for physician-assisted suicide, has publicly shared the details of his final moments. Louise Shackleton accompanied her husband, Anthony, aged 59, to Switzerland in December following his six-year battle with motor neurone disease, where he sought voluntary assisted dying.
Peaceful Final Hour in the Alps Preceding Assisted Death
According to Mrs. Shackleton’s interview with The Mirror, the couple spent a tranquil hour together outdoors, enjoying the sunshine, admiring the Alpine scenery, and engaging in conversation. She recounted how Mr. Shackleton, before entering the Dignitas facility, turned to her and declared, “It’s time.”
Mrs. Shackleton, 58, then guided her husband’s wheelchair into the clinic, where he would undergo the procedure to end his life. “I was astonished by his level of composure,” she stated. “It was truly remarkable because as humans, we naturally fear death and the process of dying. Yet, he made the entire experience feel serene. He was completely at peace.”
Inside the Dignitas Clinic: A Calm and Comforting Process
Upon arrival at Dignitas, Mr. Shackleton received anti-nausea medication and was welcomed by three “knowledgeable” staff members who meticulously “explained every step of the process.” Following their outdoor walk, he was once more asked to confirm his decision to proceed with the assisted suicide, which involved ingesting medication that would induce sleep and ultimately result in death. Mrs. Shackleton recounted that he responded with a smile and a laugh, asking, “What do you think I’m here for? Let’s do this!”
Husband’s Gentle Passing and Wife’s Reflections
Mrs. Shackleton lay beside her husband as he self-administered the end-of-life medication, admitting that she “couldn’t watch him do it.” She described holding him in her arms and feeling him become heavy “within minutes.” Mr. Shackleton reportedly whispered, “I feel sleepy,” and then let out a snore. Mrs. Shackleton held him tighter and jokingly commented on his snoring. She recalled that “he laughed and gently slipped away” in what she characterized as a “beautiful death.”
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Motivations and the UK Legal Stance on Assisted Dying
The Shackletons had been discussing assisted dying for over two years, concluding it was the only way for Mr. Shackleton to avoid a painful and prolonged death. Assisting suicide is illegal in the UK, though prosecutions are infrequent. The ongoing parliamentary debate on the assisted dying bill seeks to legalize assisted death for terminally ill individuals with less than six months to live, subject to approval from two doctors and an expert panel. The next parliamentary vote has been delayed to allow further consideration of amendments.
Advocating for Legal Reform and Sharing Their Story
Mrs. Shackleton, a resident of North Yorkshire, contends that had UK laws been different, their family could have offered support during his final moments within their home country. She is now publicly advocating for legal changes as Parliament prepares to vote on assisted dying legislation in England and Wales. “The night before he passed away, we were having dinner, and he told me, ‘I need you to fight for others. I need you to share my story because I shouldn’t have had to do this’,” Mrs. Shackleton revealed.
Upon returning from Switzerland, Mrs. Shackleton voluntarily contacted the police. While acknowledging she “committed a crime” under current UK law, she expressed no regrets about choosing Dignitas. Speaking to Sky News, she stated, “I have committed a crime, which I have acknowledged, by assisting him simply by accompanying him on a plane and being with him, but I don’t regret it for a single moment. He was my husband, and I loved him.”
Remembering Anthony Shackleton and the Broader Assisted Dying Debate
Mrs. Shackleton emphasized her husband’s kindness and generosity. A skilled furniture restorer renowned globally for his handmade rocking horses, Anthony Shackleton was, in her words, someone “no one ever had a bad word to say about.” Mrs. Shackleton observed that her husband visibly relaxed once they boarded the plane to Switzerland, experiencing happiness and peace throughout their four-day trip. She realized during those days that his desire for a peaceful death outweighed his wish to remain with her and endure suffering.
Concerns have been raised regarding the assisted dying bill, with critics arguing it could endanger vulnerable individuals by creating pressure to end their lives. Opponents also fear a shift in societal attitudes towards the elderly, sick, and disabled, advocating for improved palliative care instead. Mrs. Shackleton acknowledges the need for safeguards but stresses the importance of respecting individual wishes, even when they diverge from personal beliefs.
The Choice for a Peaceful and Dignified Death
Mrs. Shackleton explained her public stance, stating she doesn’t want her husband’s death to be in vain and is fulfilling a promise made to him on his final day to share their story. “This is about a dying person’s choice to either endure the progression of disease or to die peacefully, on their own terms, and to have a dignified death. It’s that straightforward,” she asserted.
Statistics from the Dignity in Dying campaign indicate a significant increase in British membership of Dignitas, rising by over 50 percent in the past five years. However, Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying, cautions that the £15,000 cost of end-of-life care at Dignitas leaves many individuals who cannot afford it “left to suffer as they die, or take matters into their own hands.” She told The Mirror that the Shackletons’ experience underscores how the UK’s “blanket ban” on assisted suicide is “failing dying people and their families.”
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police confirmed that “The investigation is ongoing. There is nothing further to add at this stage.”
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