Assisted dying: Family of man who died at Dignitas support law change

John Hawkins, 66, who is originally from Whitehaven, chose to end his life at Dignitas on September 27 after being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease 18 months earlier.

Mr Hawkins, who worked as a chemist at Marchon and later settled in Manchester, watched his own dad die from the disease and did not want to suffer the same fate.

John Hawkins and his daughter, Nicola, who is calling for a change in the law on assisted dying (Image: Family handout)

His daughter Nicola said: “Because his dad had it, he knew the outcome. He was a really active person before the diagnosis. I watched him go from running around Ennerdale to being sat down on the sofa with a neck brace on.

“He said if he hadn’t seen it with his dad, he might not have made that decision but because he knew what would happen, he didn’t want to live through that.”

Miss Hawkins said she was still coming to terms with the loss of her dad and the fact that he will never walk her down the aisle or meet her children.

John Hawkins pictured with his beloved Labrador and German Shepherd (Image: Family handout)

She said: “It’s always just been us three – me, my mum and dad. We didn’t want him to go but the alternative was much worse. The only thing we could do is support him.

“It was horrific. It’s the fact we were so far away. We sat and held his hands and his last words were, ‘I love you’.

“Just watching him die – I don’t think anyone is prepared for that.

John Hawkins with his wife, Lynn (Image: Family handout)

“After he died, we had to leave. You’re over 800 miles away. We didn’t have the support with us and had to get back on a flight. When you’ve just lost someone, it’s really hard to do.”

The assisted dying bill will be introduced in parliament today (October 16) by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, with a debate and initial vote likely to take place later this year.

Miss Hawkins believes she would have had more time with her dad if assisted dying had been legal in the UK.

John Hawkins with his daughter Nicola as a baby (Image: Family handout)

She said: “The laws in the UK meant that I had less time with my dad, I could have still had months with him, but the fear of him being trapped in the UK after a nasty fall like my Grandad made him go sooner than he’d like to have gone. I was robbed the extra few months with him.”

Miss Hawkins said she and her mum, Lynn now fear being arrested by police because assisting someone into suicide at Dignitas is illegal in the UK.

She said: “Now me and my mum are waiting for the police to come and knock because what we did is illegal.

“My dad tried to talk us out of coming with him multiple times due to the thought of us being arrested for going with him. He made a brave decision that day. He must have been so scared, knowing he was doing to die but the thought of him doing that alone is heartbreaking.

“I don’t believe anyone truly understands assisted suicide unless they have a family member go through Dignitas or a loved one pleading for their suffering to end.

“Watching a loved one die suffering when they are fully aware of what is happening and are being forced to stay alive should not be the norm for this country.

“I really hope it’s legalised. I don’t think any argument is strong enough against it.”

John Hawkins with his dog, Rolo (Image: Family handout)

Mr Hawkins’ brother, Mike Hawkins, a Labour member and Cumberland councillor for Mirehouse, said: “When you listen to John’s story, basically since he got his diagnosis, he’s had to plan his demise.

“If it was available in this country, he could still be alive today and would still have a good quality of life. He could have put that to the back of his mind and enjoy what he had left.

“I didn’t want him to do it but you can’t know what it’s like until you’re in that situation. It was totally his decision. He was very brave.

“My view is now that it should be available in this country after seeing what he went through.

“I think for a civilised society, we definitely need to start that debate. I can understand people’s concerns but as long as the right checks are in place and it’s safe, I would support it.”

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Dignity in Dying said every eight days a Briton travels to Dignitas for help to die. Those who go with their loved one and are present during the process face the risk of prosecution and up to 14 years in prison when they return to the UK, they said. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, a published policy describes when a case is likely to be prosecuted, and Dignity in Dying said the policy distinguishes between compassionate and malicious acts. The guidelines give individuals an indication of how the law is likely to treat them, but do not provide guarantees and have not decriminalised assisted dying, according to the campaign group’s website.

Those feeling distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK.