Louise Shackleton watched her husband’s ‘beautiful death’ in Dignitas as the Lords once again debate Bill that would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales to request an assisted death
A widow who travelled to Dignitas with her husband says she has “found peace’ as the Lords debate the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill again on Friday.
Mum of three Louise Shackleton spent 10 months under investigation for assisting husband Antony’s suicide before it was revealed she would not be prosecuted. The Crown Prosecution Service said the “legal test for prosecution was not met”.
She has told how she witnessed her husband’s ‘beautiful death’ after sharing a final kiss in Switzerland on December 5th last year.
Her 59 year old husband had been suffering from Motor Neurone Disease and had taken the decision to go overseas to escape a horrifying death.
The House of Lords is currently debating the private member’s bill that would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales to request an assisted death. Insiders say it is ‘on track’ for Royal Assent next Spring.
The bill passed its second reading in September 2025 and a historic Select Committee has been formed to examine it in detail, which is a step toward potential law. Concerns raised by members include the bill’s safeguards and its application to long-term terminal illness.
On Friday it is back at the Lords and Louise, 58, says she hopes they don’t try and block it, leading to a potential year long delay.
“It will take an extra year if the Commons take back control because they feel that the Lords are hindering progress,” Louise said.
“The terminally ill people of this country can not afford that extra time limitation.”
Louise told The Mirror: “Over the last few months something has changed in me; it feels like a peace has overcome the panic. I’ve had to process so much and it has dawned on me why there is this calm.
“The pain of him dying is still here and my heart is broken but there is peace. I realise that due to organisations like Dignitas I no longer fear my death.
“My life is worth living as I can afford to not suffer should an illness threaten me. My death can and will be one of painless compassion.
“Whilst I may have to die alone I know that will be better than my children and grandchildren watching my suffering. It’s an incredible relief.
“I only hope the Lords can realise that an assisted death is actually about a beautiful life with peace without panic and anxiety with what might come. Do the state really think they have the right to force people to live a life of suffering, of pain, of anguish? Listen to what the public wants, it’s your gift of love and compassion.”
Louise says in the UK “right up until a terminally ill person says they would like an assisted death they are deemed as ‘compos mentis’.
“It is taken that they can consent to medical treatment, that they can manage their own affairs, they can stop treatments and choose to stop drinking and eating to hasten death, that they are sane. There is no investigation of family coercion.
“But when dying people make the decision that they want an assisted death everything changes and it is presumed they have an undiagnosed mental illness or their family is sinister.
“An assisted death is actually the gift of life, a life without anxiety, a life where memories can be made, a life with peace knowing there is goodness ahead and not pain and suffering.”
Louise will be travelling to London on Friday for the committee stage of the debate which is due to start in the Lords. Insiders say the bill is ‘still on track’ to get Royal Assent before Spring.
There are four Fridays so far set aside between now and the end of the year for this stage of debate but this may be added to in the New Year.
The Lords will debate the amendments they are proposing and the report stage will start around the end of January before a vote is taken on the amendments in the Lords and Commons.
It is widely believed there should be plenty of time before the end of the parliamentary session and historic bill could be given Royal Assent before Spring.
