A mother who recently confessed to ending her terminally-ill son’s life has tragically passed away, as confirmed by her family.
At the age of 77, Antonya Cooper from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, succumbed to incurable breast, pancreatic, and liver cancer over the weekend.
Her son Hamish was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma at the tender age of five and sadly passed away on December 1, 1981, at the age of seven.
In a heartfelt statement to the BBC, Antonya’s daughter Tabitha expressed, ‘She passed away peacefully, free from pain, surrounded by her beloved family.
It was a departure that aligned with her wishes. She lived life on her own terms and left this world on her own terms as well.’
After conducting initial investigations, Thames Valley Police visited the family following recent events.
Antonya had previously divulged to the BBC that she took the decision to end her son’s life by administering a lethal dose of medication due to his unbearable suffering.
Expressing awareness of the reports regarding the assisted dying of a seven-year-old boy in 1981, the police refrained from commenting further until a thorough inquiry had been carried out.
The law in England prohibits euthanasia as a means to end suffering by intentionally terminating a person’s life.
A strong advocate for changing the legislation surrounding assisted dying, Antonya had affiliations with the assisted dying clinic Dignitas in Switzerland.
Under current laws, individuals may face charges of murder or manslaughter for such actions.
When questioned about the potential legal repercussions, Antonya bravely acknowledged, ‘Yes.’
She reflected, ‘If legal actions are to be taken 43 years after I allowed Hamish to pass peacefully, I will accept the consequences. However, time is limited as I am also nearing the end of my life.’
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