Wendy Duffy heart breaking but understandable

[youalright]

What a brave lady i hope she's holding her son right now.

I completely agree @endofthelinefinally grief equivalence is not the debate here.

For me, it's that there are institutions who are financially benefitting from acceding to the wishes of a person, who is obviously healthy but desperately struggling emotionally.

In the case of Wendy Duffy, I do, actually, find it obscene that companies are permitted to gain financially from her devastating grief.

@Alwaysthesameoldstory it's true, it's just something we don't thankfully experience any more here. Many lost all their children in war or to childhood illness. I wonder how on earth they coped, maybe there was a tiny comfort of knowing they werent alone. There are many in Gaza and other places right now who have lost entire families. I suspect if this type of thing was more common we'd suddenly find ourselves a lot more religious.

Me too, had my son been my only child l would do this too. Been over a year and the pain is relentless and unbearable. An extra layer is added in dreadful sudden unexpected circumstances like Wendy's s son.

She did have the right to take her own life. We all do.

But I can’t imagine any society that allows euthanising the grieving or mentally ill. Wendy’s actions prove that there would have been ‘mission creep’ had the assisted dying bill passed into law. I’d support it for the terminally ill, suffering awful pain. But not for cases like this. And this is where we’d end up.

People don't have to stay alive for the benefit of anyone, except possibly their children under the age of 18. This was her decision to make. Why should she live in misery for the benefit of her mum or her siblings. If they love her, they will be happy she is not in pain anymore. Her son died four years ago. She gave life a good try bless her.
There are a lot of things worse than being dead.

It's also a little concerning to see people lauding committing suicide as a decision of great bravery, and 'the right choice'.

Would you feel the same if the the person was suffering a physical illness

I agree, why can’t we give up and die if we wish? Life is too complicated for some people. There billions of us so what’s the issue. Far too much hang wringing in my view. I will end my life if I get too old and infirm. I don’t want to waste my money on care that keeps the husk of my being alive. I’m rich enough to afford it, but I’d rather give my money away.

Agency over your own life should be a basic human right.And that should include the right to terminate it.

I agree, I think there is a shift in society where we talk about human life in a very utilitarian way. I do understand the logic and I have a lot of empathy for people's suffering but if we zoom out from personal cases the general shift is disturbing and I do think we should be concerned at where it could end up.

Do you know that she’s not with her son?

I agree with assisted dying for many situations but this case, I'm really uneasy about.

What a shame. What a waste.

The fact this happened is so very wrong.

In no way to diminish your loss but it is unusual for a child to die before their parents

Yes it happens but its not a usual occurrence at all

I also wouldn't call it brave. I don't think this is something to be celebrated or encouraged in any way.

But sometimes for that person ending their own life is the right choice.

Similar cases have been happening for years this isn't anything new. Its just more shocking to us as its illegal in this country.

Stop saying you know her mum will understand. You know absolutely nothing about that. You are not her. It’s disturbing the way you talk.

If I was in her situation and had no other children to think of I'd do the same. I can't imagine her grief. There is no moral imperative to live until our bodies decide to stop working.

I said it once. Her mum has dementia

It having happened before or even being widely accepted doesn't make it right or good, though. I don't even find it particularly shocking, sadly, but I still don't think it's a positive trend for a society when more and more are choosing to check out early. I do have sympathy for those dying painfully when there's no hope of recovery, but I just can't see this in the same way. Fortunately for those who disagree with me, the world doesn't seem to care what I think.

About having a company or government do it? Most likely, yes, I would feel the same if the physical illness isn't imminently terminal, and they have the physical capability to kill themselves.

But then I'm not in favour of companies or governments killing people who are capable of killing themselves. Everyone has the right to take their own life, but I don't think they should have the right to pay people to kill them.

I certainly don't think that companies or governments should step in and kill physically healthy people because they're mentally unwell, and ask to die.
If that's what we're doing now, why bother treating anyone who's suicidal? Just kill 'em, right?

I'm also against this new attitude of treating suicide due to mental illness as being brave and wonderful, and something to be praised. Considering the proven social contagion aspect of suicide, I think it's hugely irresponsible.

I'd do the same if I lost my only dc.

I just wonder why the publicity, why it wasn't all private. Not judging her just puzzled why the spread in the paper. I'd want to slip away privately.

This is twice you've brought up her mother's dementia.

Please can you explain the relevance, and how it means you know she'll understand?

OP, would you advise a grieving mother to end her life?

Why/why not?