Daughter of woman who died at euthanasia clinic says ‘nothing they do is going to satisfy me'
The daughter of a woman who died at a Swiss euthanasia clinic has said she wants to make sure that what happened to her mother 'never happens to another person again'.
Megan Slough Royal only learned about her mother Maureen's death through a message on WhatsApp earlier this summer.
None of the family of the Cavan-based woman were with the 58-year-old as she slipped away at a clinic in Switzerland.
Ms Slough Royal says she was later informed by the clinic that her mother had told them she was aware of her decision.
Maureen Slough with her daughter Megan
Today's News in 90 Seconds - August 20th
But Ms Royal was further horrified when she was informed that her mother's ashes would be posted to her.
The clinic has told her they will video call relatives before they carry out the procedure, but Ms Slough Royal told Lunchtime Live: 'Nothing they do is going to satisfy me.
'I don't want policies or promises, I want to make sure this never happens to another person again.'
Ms Slough Royal highlighted the fact that relatives who are informed that their loved ones are about to undergo assisted suicide could be accidently breaking the law.
'The first thing they said was they're going to start video calling people,' she said.
'This new video call thing is totally haphazard; assisted suicide is illegal in so many countries.
'You might be breaking the law of your home country by agreeing.
Ms Slough travelled to the Pegasos clinic in Switzerland less than a month ago, on July 8, having told her family she was going to Lithuania with a friend. Her family became suspicious and contacted her. They say she promised to return.
But Ms Royal and Ms Slough's partner, Mick Lynch, would later receive a message from a volunteer for the Pegasos group to inform them of her death.
Maureen Slough
The family immediately set about trying to find out why they were not informed by the clinic in advance, and also questioned if Ms Slough's history of mental illness was assessed by the clinic first.
The Pegasos group has said in response to questions from family and friends of Ms Slough, that it received a letter from Ms Slough's daughter Megan saying she was aware of her mother's wishes and accepted them.
It also says it verified the letter through an email response to Ms Royal using an email address supplied by Ms Slough.
Ms Royal has said she never wrote such a letter or verified any contact from Pegasos, and now her family think Ms Slough may have forged the 'letter' and verified it using an email address she created herself.
Pegasos was asked further questions by the Irish Independent as to why it did not ring Ms Royal, and whether it sought a mental health history for Ms Slough before her death.
The Pegasos group responded that Ms Slough went through an extensive assessment process leading up to her death, including an independent psychiatric evaluation confirming she was of sound mind.
Her brother Philip, a UK solicitor, has now written to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in the UK, asking it to investigate the matter with Swiss authorities.
The grieving daughter said her mother had tried to take her own life last year following the deaths of two of her sisters, and was not in her right mind when she made her decision to go to Switzerland. Her latest granddaughter had been born just days earlier.
'They should not have allowed her to make that decision on her own. This group did not contact me, even though my mother had nominated me as next of kin. They waited until afterwards and then told me she had died listening to an Elvis Presley song,' Ms Royal said.
If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, you can call Samaritans free on 116123 or email jo@samaritans.ie; or call Pieta on freephone 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444
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Daughter of woman who died at euthanasia clinic says ‘nothing they do is going to satisfy me'
'I don't want policies or promises, I want to make sure this never happens to another person again' The daughter of a woman who died at a Swiss euthanasia clinic has said she wants to make sure that what happened to her mother 'never happens to another person again'. Megan Slough Royal only learned about her mother Maureen's death through a message on WhatsApp earlier this summer. None of the family of the Cavan-based woman were with the 58-year-old as she slipped away at a clinic in Switzerland. Ms Slough Royal says she was later informed by the clinic that her mother had told them she was aware of her decision. Maureen Slough with her daughter Megan Today's News in 90 Seconds - August 20th But Ms Royal was further horrified when she was informed that her mother's ashes would be posted to her. The clinic has told her they will video call relatives before they carry out the procedure, but Ms Slough Royal told Lunchtime Live: 'Nothing they do is going to satisfy me. 'I don't want policies or promises, I want to make sure this never happens to another person again.' Ms Slough Royal highlighted the fact that relatives who are informed that their loved ones are about to undergo assisted suicide could be accidently breaking the law. 'The first thing they said was they're going to start video calling people,' she said. 'This new video call thing is totally haphazard; assisted suicide is illegal in so many countries. 'You might be breaking the law of your home country by agreeing. Ms Slough travelled to the Pegasos clinic in Switzerland less than a month ago, on July 8, having told her family she was going to Lithuania with a friend. Her family became suspicious and contacted her. They say she promised to return. But Ms Royal and Ms Slough's partner, Mick Lynch, would later receive a message from a volunteer for the Pegasos group to inform them of her death. Maureen Slough The family immediately set about trying to find out why they were not informed by the clinic in advance, and also questioned if Ms Slough's history of mental illness was assessed by the clinic first. The Pegasos group has said in response to questions from family and friends of Ms Slough, that it received a letter from Ms Slough's daughter Megan saying she was aware of her mother's wishes and accepted them. It also says it verified the letter through an email response to Ms Royal using an email address supplied by Ms Slough. Ms Royal has said she never wrote such a letter or verified any contact from Pegasos, and now her family think Ms Slough may have forged the 'letter' and verified it using an email address she created herself. Pegasos was asked further questions by the Irish Independent as to why it did not ring Ms Royal, and whether it sought a mental health history for Ms Slough before her death. The Pegasos group responded that Ms Slough went through an extensive assessment process leading up to her death, including an independent psychiatric evaluation confirming she was of sound mind. Her brother Philip, a UK solicitor, has now written to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in the UK, asking it to investigate the matter with Swiss authorities. The grieving daughter said her mother had tried to take her own life last year following the deaths of two of her sisters, and was not in her right mind when she made her decision to go to Switzerland. Her latest granddaughter had been born just days earlier. 'They should not have allowed her to make that decision on her own. This group did not contact me, even though my mother had nominated me as next of kin. They waited until afterwards and then told me she had died listening to an Elvis Presley song,' Ms Royal said. If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, you can call Samaritans free on 116123 or email jo@ or call Pieta on freephone 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444
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