[BobbyB]

Why it was right that my Reg took his life
Jan 7 2008 by Helen Hunt, Liverpool Echo

THE Liverpool widow of a man who used a Swiss clinic to end his life today said she would take the same action.

The fifth anniversary of Reg Crew’s assisted death falls later this month.

Win Crew spoke to the ECHO of her belief that they took the right decision and of her determination to change the euthanasia law in Britain.

Speaking from the home the couple shared in Hunts Cross, the retired librarian said: “If I got really sick with something and knew my life wasn’t worth living, I would certainly go and do it.

“I’ve seen close hand what happens – at least I would be picking my own time.

“Surely it would be better if a proper law was in place to allow people who are terminally ill to die with dignity.”

Mr and Mrs Crew and their daughter Jan Healey flew to Swiss clinic Dignitas in 2003.

On January 20, at 10am, with his daughter and his wife at his bedside, he drank water laced with barbiturates.

The 74-year-old retired car production worker had suffered from motor neurone disease for four years and could take no more.

He told broadcasters he had enjoyed a “good innings” as the drugs took effect.

The couple had enjoyed more than 50 years of marriage, but they knew it was time to part.

After Mr Crew’s death, she wanted the government to change the euthanasia law and was given hope by a proposed bill in 2006. But it was rejected by the House of Lords.

Mrs Crew said: “Reg didn’t want to go to another country to die, as he always said England was the best country in the world and hoped to end his days here.

“Not a lot has changed since his death. We went down to London a lot when the bill was going through. Now I do what I can to highlight the plight because it was the last thing he asked me to do.”

Mrs Crew, now in her 70s, was devastated when the bill failed.

She said: “We took thousands of signatures to the House of Lords.

“I really thought it would be achieved and if there was a referendum in this country that law would be passed because everyone I speak to all say the law’s not right and the terminally-ill should have a choice.

“Reg wasn’t in a lot of pain, but it was like having no arms or legs. His muscles had gone.

“He knew he would end up choking or starving to death – why should he have to face that end?

“He had a really peaceful end. If we would have stayed here his end would have been barbaric.”

The couple’s trip to Switzerland was made difficult by Mr Crew’s illness, but Dignitas’s rules meant he had to speak for himself and his powers of speech were very nearly gone.

But after the Crew’s story attracted international press, they had to sneak out of house in the middle of the night.

Mrs Crew said: “We had no idea. When Reg called the ECHO, it snowballed from there.”

In the latter stages of Mr Crew’s life he needed more and more care as his body succumbed to the affects of motor neurone disease, a progressive muscle-wasting condition. The reason the Crews moved to the bungalow where Mrs Crew still lives is because of the illness.

Mrs Crew said: “Some say with good palliative (end of life) care we wouldn’t have had to do what we did.

“That’s completely wrong. Reg wasn’t in a lot of pain, but he still had no quality of life left.

“Reg used to be quite sporty and to then have to be in a chair, not be able to move. In the end he couldn’t hold his head up.

“He couldn’t feed himself, go to the toilet himself. He couldn’t stand. It was terrible for him.”

When Mrs Crew came back from Switzerland she found out the police wanted to speak to her about the death. But she said: “It was so bad at that time I couldn’t imagine anything could have been any worse.

“Watching him day by day. It’s like watching somebody disintegrate.

“I used to think cancer was the worst thing you could face but it isn’t.

“Reg, although everything else was gone, his brain was still as sharp as ever. He knew everything that was happening to him.

“He knew the next thing would be for his voice to go and he needed to say that’s what he wanted at the Swiss clinic.”

Mrs Crew was brought up as a Catholic and what Mr Crew did goes against Catholic teachings. She said: “At the end of the day, you have to do what you feel is right.

“There are lots of things in Catholicism that I don’t agree with, like I don’t agree with saying there shouldn’t be birth control.”

Mr Crew had his wish to have his ashes scattered at the golf course where he used to play.

Mrs Crew said: “I never thought what happened to us would ever happen, not in a million years.

“I just hope I see that law changed before I die because that’s what he wanted.”

Jail threat to helpers

THE Netherlands became the first country in the world to sanction euthanasia in 2002.

Assisted suicide is also permitted in Belgium and Switzerland. Anyone in the UK who assists a suicide can face up to 14 years in prison.

The law is unclear on helping someone travel abroad to end their life.

Oregon became the only American state to permit assisted suicide in 1994, but euthanasia is still illegal.

More than 600 British people are members of Dignitas.

Since Reg Crew became the second British citizen to travel to Switzerland to die, 23 people have made the same journey.

Dignitas was set up by 74-year-old human rights lawyer Ludwig Minelli and charges clients £46 for a lethal dose of barbiturates, which they must self-administer. It makes no profits.

helenhunt@liverpoolecho.co.uk
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...0252-20320096/