Wendy Duffy, 56, a former care worker from the West Midlands, has paid £10,000 to end her life at Pegasos, a Swiss assisted dying clinic.Wendy Duffy, 56, a former care worker from the West Midlands, has paid £10,000 to end her life at Pegasos, a Swiss assisted dying clinic.

Wendy Duffy, 56, a former care worker from the West Midlands, has paid £10,000 to end her life at Pegasos, a Swiss assisted dying clinic.

A healthy mum, aged 56, set to die in Switzerland has been photographed smiling in happier times. Wendy Duffy, 56, a former care worker from the West Midlands, has paid £10,000 to end her life at Pegasos, a Swiss assisted dying clinic.

The 56-year-old’s heartbreaking decision comes after losing her son Marcus, 23, four years ago. She told the Daily Mail in an interview: “I want to die, and that’s what I’m going to do. My life; my choice.”

Having already tried to take her own life, and failed, Wendy has now informed her four sisters and two brothers of her decision. Alistair Thompson, Care Not Killing’s spokesman, told the Daily Mail: “This is a tragic case that highlights the real dangers of legalising assisted suicide and euthanasia.

READ MORE Major European airline cancels 160 flights – but passengers will be ‘rebooked’

“In recent years, we have seen people with diabetes, eating disorders and even those losing their looks to have applied to have their life ended under assisted dying legislation.

“This is why we argue there is no safe system anywhere in the world and why the House of Lords looks set to reject the assisted dying bill this week in Parliament.

“What we should be doing is concentrating on good palliative care rather than condoning the deaths of people who are clearly suffering in different ways.

“We’ve seen cases where people are heartbroken in the past. In Canada we’ve seen a case where a man was applying for an assisted death because he was made homeless, there are many similar tragic cases.

“That is the problem. 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.”

For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit www.thecalmzone.net/get-support

Labour MP Rachel Maskell said: “Complex grief needs to be far better understood and supported.

“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; the answer is not ending your own life.

“Investment in trauma-informed approaches to grief is crucial, while for those with enduring mental health challenges, services must rapidly improve.

“However, I believe we have a further duty – the Pegasos clinic in Switzerland should cause us alarm and we, as a Parliament, must explore ways of protecting people from using their ‘services’ if we are to protect people at their most vulnerable state.”