Daughter fears 'police will come knocking' after dad flew to Switzerland for assisted dying

The daughter of a man who travelled to Switzerland for an assisted death is calling on MPs to support legislation on assisted dying this Friday, despite her concerns that the UK may not be ready for such a change. John Hawkins, 66, ended his life on September 27, 2024, following an 18-month battle with motor neurone disease (MND), a condition his own father had also suffered from.

After experiencing a severe fall post-diagnosis, John feared he would become too unwell to travel and made the decision to go to Switzerland earlier than planned. His daughter, Nicola Hawkins, 24, said that her father feared being "trapped" in the UK and she believes they could have had more time together if assisted dying were legal here.

Ahead of the parliamentary vote, Nicola, who works as a CCTV trainer in Manchester, is advocating for the right of terminally ill individuals to choose their moment of death. She stated: "The whole thing about being forced or being pushed to go is a myth. If they ever actually looked at people who have gone they would realise they don't have a choice." For the latest health and Covid news, sign up to our newsletter here

She added: "It is nobody's decision but the individual, palliative care is not for everyone. Why can't we have the choice to die. I would like the vote to go through but as a country I don't think we are there yet."

In April 2022, John received the devastating diagnosis of MND. His father, also named John, had previously been diagnosed with the same disease and passed away in 2012 at the age of 79, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Having witnessed his father's experience, John made the difficult decision to opt for an assisted death, as he did not want to endure the same progression of the disease. Nicola explained: "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, a lake in Cumbria, 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."

Nicola believes that her father "died with dignity" and that everyone in the UK should have the same right. She stated: "Dignitas is to die with dignity and that is exactly what my dad made the decision to do. My dad died without carers having to look after him, and most importantly he was able to take his dog for one last walk Thursday morning before we flew."

"If every family went through what we have I do believe the law in the UK would have changed by now."

Following an 18-month battle, John, his wife Lynn Hawkins, 56, and daughter Nicola travelled to Dignitas. On September 27, 2024, John took his own life, surrounded by his family.

Nicola described the experience of flying to a foreign country as "horrible". Nicola, grieving the loss of her father, recounted their ordeal, saying: "We had no support after his death as we were in a country we didn't know. If assisted dying was legal in the UK, my dad could still be here. He was so terrified of not being well enough to travel and being trapped in the UK."

She expressed how she and her mother felt vulnerable upon returning home, aware that assisting someone in suicide at Dignitas is illegal in the UK.

Nicola said: "Now my mum and I are waiting for the police to come and knock because what we did was 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."

She also reflected on his courage, adding, "He must have been so scared, knowing he was going to die but the thought of him doing that alone is heartbreaking."

In light of the upcoming vote, Nicola stated her hope that the assisted dying bill will pass, but cautioned, "I think we are behind in open to thinking about it. It isn't about going to kill yourself, it is about dying with dignity for people who incurable painful, terminal diseases on their own terms - which is their own choice whilst they are sane."

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