Moral impasse over mother's trip to Dignitas

A FORMER police officer said he made the hardest decision of his life not to be by his mother's side when she died at Dignitas, as it would have put his career in jeopardy.

- Hanna Geissler

James Johnson, 34, saw his personal and professional lives collide five years ago when his mother was diagnosed with vasculitis.

The incurable condition attacks blood vessels, causing damage to vital organs.

James said: "An unsurvivable disease was killing her, with waves of flare-ups getting progressively worse.

"Mum knew the demise she was facing.

She received excellent palliative care, but some of the symptoms from the palliative care medicines were completely intolerable. Some caused a tremor so bad that she couldn't hold a cup of tea still enough to drink from it.

"None of them touched the pain she was in, nor afforded her the dignity and quality of life that she wanted."