A Didcot woman has shared the story of her mother going to a service which provides physician-assisted suicide, describing it as "incredibly difficult", ahead of an upcoming House of Commons bill. 

Catie, whose surname has not been revealed, said her mum Alison was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in June 2022.

Alison, 69, then informed her family in the September that she wanted to go to Dignitas, a non-profit organisation based in Switzerland, as she "did not want to see the disease through to the end".

Laws throughout the UK prevent people from asking for medical help to die but in Switzerland it has been decriminalised.

However, a bill put forward by Spen Valley MP Kim Leadbeater later this month would give choice at the end of life for the terminally ill.

A debate and first vote are expected to take place on November 29.

READ MORE: Oxford’s “worst estate” residents gain councillors support

Catie with Kim Leadbeater and other campaigners and MPs (Image: Contributed) Catie, who asked to only use her first name, said: “Three years ago, my mum was diagnosed with motor neurone disease and she made it very clear from the outset that she did not want to see it through to the end due to how difficult the disease is. So she made the choice to go to Dignitas. 

“Unfortunately my sister and I could not go with her, so we had to say goodbye early in the morning at 6am.

"We put her in a taxi to go to the airport and then we had to learn that mum had died from a text saying 'she sleeps so brave'. 

“And we're still living with the trauma and the pain of the fact that we couldn't be there with her. 

“It's a really positive move forward, to give people who are terminally ill the chance to not die in pain. 

“Mum's dying wish would have been that anybody can access a painless death with dignity, just like she did, but in the UK. So family and everyone can be there just as we wanted to.”

She added: “I am deeply involved in the Dignity in Dying campaign and have given speeches in parliament and been part of Kim Leadbeater’s launching of her new bill.

“Mum should have been able to die in the UK, saving our family £15,000, weeks and months of stress and worry and the ongoing trauma. Also, my sister and I have never really recovered from the fact we weren’t there when she passed away.

“It’s not about taking life, but shortening death.”

If the Bill passes the first stage in the Commons, it will go to committee stage where MPs can table amendments, before facing further scrutiny and votes in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, meaning any change in the law would not be agreed until next year at the earliest.

Opponents have raised concerns including the possibility of people being put under pressure to end their lives.

Campaign group Care Not Killing said the government should focus on improving palliative care instead.

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About the author  

Toby is a senior reporter who has a particular interest in covering planning and local government. 

He joined in September 2024 having been a reporter at the Hampshire Chronicle for three years. 

Toby studied at the University of Brighton and can be found on X through the handle @JournoToby