Tragic: Terminally-ill retired magistrate Monica Cooke who starved herself to death
An inquest heard how the 74-year-old, once a keen tennis player and an
active member of several choirs, was cruelly robbed of her ability to move,
taste and smell by the debilitating degenerative condition over two decades. Her
husband of 40 years, David, said that she had taken the decision to end her
life by starvation 'in a controlled and rational way.' A family statement read to the coroner said:
‘Having embarked upon the intended course of action, Monica let it be known
within the family that her perception and intent should be used in any way to
extend and inform the debate on the assisted right to die.’
The mother from Cheddar, Somerset, closely followed the High Court cases
of Debbie Purdy and Mr Nicklinson, who both battled for the legal right to be
allowed to die. Mrs Cooke, who has been descried as a cheerful, courageous
woman with sharp intellect, had first expressed her wish to end her lengthy
battle with the crippling disease earlier this year.
On August 30, she told her husband that she was preparing to stop food
and fluid after taking courage from Mr Nicklinson, 58, who died following the
collapse of his legal case on assisted dying.
Monica Cooke said she wanted her death to help the fight to change the law on assisted dying, after being inspired by Tony Nicklinson (pictured with his wife Jane) who campaigned for the right to die
The father-of-two, who was left paralysed after a stroke, died from
pneumonia on August 22 after refusing food and fluid; a week after the High
Court had rejected his request to ‘die with dignity’ with the help of medical
professionals. Despite intervention by her GP, Weston Hospice, daughter Miranda
and friends, Mrs Cooke remained resolute and died on September 7 at her
bungalow; eight days after first refusing food. Mr Cooke said Mr Nicklinson’s
final struggle gave his wife the strength to make her wish to die a reality.
Resolute: Monica Cooke, 74, stopped eating and died eight days after first refusing food
Speaking after the hearing on Thursday, he said: ‘The time and manner of Mr Nicklinson's last few days gave her the courage to put her long-declared intention into action. She wished to intervene and end her life when she chose.' He added: ‘Needless to say she paid close attention to the various cases in the national press and High Court that addressed the individual's right to seek assistance in the ending of life under extreme circumstances. 'Having embarked on her intended course of action Monica let it be known within the family that her perception and intent should be used in any way to extend and inform the debate on the 'assisted right to die'.'
West Somerset coroner Michael Rose said normally a verdict of suicide
would be recorded but in these exceptional circumstances he was adopting a
narrative verdict. At the hearing in Taunton, he said he did not “support or
condone her decision” as “it was a matter for Parliament to make legislation”. But
added: ‘No-one who heard her story could fail to be moved.’ He said: 'There is no dispute in my mind that
her death was brought about somewhat prematurely by refusing food. 'I in no way
either support or condone the action. Anyone who has been here today cannot
help but be moved by what happened. 'Clearly Mrs Cooke was of sound mind and
therefore any further action by GP Dr Davies was extremely limited, he could
not intervene unless she was mentally unstable - but she clearly wasn't.'
In the statement read to the inquest on Thursday, the family of Mrs
Cooke said she was disappointed with the outcome of fellow MS sufferer Debbie
Purdy’s legal fight. ‘The Nicklinson case raised similar emotions and led us
jointly to the conclusion that the courts could not act unilaterally and the
politicians would not act because of the lack of political kudos in addressing
such a controversial subject involving small numbers,’ the statement said.
‘She had addressed the subject with a detached logical and informed way,
resulting in her strongly held belief in the right to self-determination and
identifying the fallacy of those who believed that palliative care necessarily
restored a tolerable quality of life.’ Mr
Cooke told the inquest his wife was an active and outgoing woman, who was
slowly crippled by the degenerative disease. She was a marriage guidance counselor
for 30 years, enjoyed playing tennis and singing in choirs, and was also a
Justice of the Peace in Shepton Mallet and Mendip, Somerset.
Debbie Purdy, multiple sclerosis sufferer, fought for the right to die
But the disease had left the once-sprightly magistrate unable to move,
taste and smell. Monica was confined to a wheelchair in 2002, which was swapped
for an electric one in 2004. The disease had destroyed her body to such an
extent that she had to retire as a magistrate because she could not lift the
book of sentencing guidelines. Her husband says by 2011 Monica was a virtual
"shut-in", who restricted the number of people who came to see her
because she did not want to lose her dignity. He said: 'Nevertheless she
remained relatively cheerful as can be witnessed by the various care staff, and
nurses who attended her for various reasons and her handful of close friends.
'She engaged them in lively conversation, sharing her wide knowledge of
this country, politics, world events, literature and culture. 'After another
short infection in April 2012 she started to express to all these people her
wish not to continue her life. 'The reasons given were the total loss of any
sensations that could give pleasure, a total loss of dignity, and a prospect of
further loss of the minimal remaining physical capacity. 'It was done in a
matter-of-fact way - nevertheless, all were saddened by the down turn in her
attitude. 'This attitude remained unchanged from then until August 2012 when it
turned from attitude to resolve.'
Right-to-die campaigners have said the death is another tragic example
of why the law on assisted suicide needs to be changed. Former MS sufferer Emma
Boultwood, whose condition went into remission two years ago, said: ‘There
needs to be a change in the law so that people can have help when they have
reached the end of wanting to live. ‘They should be given a dignified death and
they should not be put in the position where they have to take drastic measures
themselves.’
Daily Mail UK
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