A mother who admitted ending her terminally ill son’s life has died – days after police revealed they were investigating the boy’s death.
Hamish Cooper spent two years in agony after being diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma – a rare childhood cancer – aged just five.
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His mother, Antonya, 77, admitted she chose to “quietly end his life” at their home in Oxfordshire in 1981 by giving him a large dose of morphine.
Thames Valley Police said on Wednesday they were investigating Antonya, who is the former chairman of Neuroblastoma UK and was also battling cancer.
Her family today shared the news that she had died.
In a statement to the BBCAntonya’s daughter Tabitha said: “She was at peace, out of pain, at home and surrounded by her loving family.
“It was exactly the way she wanted it. She lived life on her terms and died on her terms.”
Last week, police said they were “aware of reports relating to an apparent case of assisted death of a seven-year-old boy in 1981”.
They added: “At this early stage the force is investigating these reports and is not in a position to comment further whilst inquiries continue.”
Assisted dying – where one person helps another to end their own life – and euthanasia – deliberately ending a person’s life – are illegal in England.
Speaking about the tragedy previously, Antonya said her son was initially given three months to live after being diagnosed.
His life was prolonged after “beastly” cancer treatment, but Hamish was in great pain.
The mother said: “In the middle of the night, we were at his bedside.
“He was expressing that he was in pain and I said, ‘Would you like me to ease the pain?’
“He said, ‘Yes, please, Mommy.’
Antonya then explained how she gave Hamish a dose of morphine after deciding “the time was right”.
She said BBC Radio Oxford on Tuesday, she believed her son knew she intended to end his life.
The mother added: “It was the right thing to do.
“My son was facing the most terrible suffering and the most intense pain, I was not going to allow him to go through that.”
When presenting herself to the police, Antonya said: “They would have to be quick, because I am also dying.”
Assisted suicide – the law
Both euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal in the UK.
Euthanasia, sometimes known as mercy killing, is the practice of intentionally ending someone’s life to alleviate their pain and suffering, while assisted suicide involves the person who wishes to die taking an active role in ending their own life.
Euthanasia carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and assisted suicide, 14 years.
The only exception is “passive euthanasia”, which occurs when treatment that could prolong someone’s life is withdrawn – such as turning off a vital machine.
The only alternatives for terminally ill patients in the UK are palliative care or refusing treatment, something mentally competent patients have the right to do.
Patients can make an “advance decision” to refuse treatment or opt for terminal sedation, meaning they will be kept unconscious as death approaches.
As a result, some terminally ill people decide to travel abroad to die in clinics like Dignitas in Switzerland.
COMMENT: Jane Atkinson – ‘I feel sympathy for her’
By Jane Atkinsonpublished yesterday
When Antonya Cooper admitted she had ended the life of her terminally ill son Hamish when he was just seven years old, she knew it would cause outrage.
Some of the responses were truly horrific, with cruel people calling her a murderer and a horrible bitch, and several saying she should be immediately arrested and sent to prison.
I am not. I can’t feel anything but absolute sympathy for Antonya because she has suffered enough.
She told BBC Radio Oxford this week that 43 years ago her son had stage four cancer and asked her to alleviate his “most horrendous suffering”, so she gave him “a huge dose of morphine which silently ended his life”.
I can’t imagine the torture she went through doing this painful and selfless act for the little boy she adored and wanted to be with forever.
When he was first diagnosed with the rare cancer neuroblastoma, little Hamish was the same age as my five-year-old son, and I’d like to think that if he were in that same horrible position, he would somehow encounter that stomach-churning sensation. . strength to do exactly the same thing if there was absolutely no hope left.
Hamish underwent 16 months of “beastly” cancer treatment that left him in constant agony.
On the last night of his life, Antonya asked him: “Would you like me to ease the pain?” and he said, “Yes, please, Mommy.”
She says she believes he knew what would happen, adding: “I was his mother.
He loved his mother and I loved him completely, and I wasn’t going to let him suffer, and I feel like he really knew where he was going.”
She was determined not to let him go through any more “horrendous suffering and intense pain”, saying: “It was the right thing to do. . . I wouldn’t allow him to go through that.”
Of course it was the right thing to do.
The job of a caring, loving and dedicated mother is to protect her child, not to see him suffer. She eased his agony. Finally.
And since then Antonya has dedicated her life to other children with the same cancer, after launching the charity Neuroblastoma UK.
Now, in what must be the cruelest twist of fate, the 77-year-old also has terminal cancer – probably why she has decided life is too short to keep her harrowing past decision a secret.
She knows this could mean she has potentially admitted manslaughter or murder, and said of the police: “They would have to be quick, because I’m dying too.”
We all know that assisted suicide — the act of intentionally helping someone end their life — and euthanasia, the deliberate ending of a person’s life, are both illegal in the UK, and Thames Valley Police are “ investigate” Antonya’s case.
And yes, in the eyes of the law, she committed a crime.
But I hope they see common sense, have some compassion, and realize that there are more pressing offenses to deal with than this all-out crime of love.
The pain of losing your son the way Antonya did is a life sentence.
And every person who calls her a horrible bitch should take a look at their own child – or a loved one’s child – and ask what they would really do if that person was dying slowly and painfully in front of them and needed help.
Antonya says she is not a religious person, but adds that there is “a little voice inside me that believes it would be wonderful if I could hug Hamish again.”
I really hope that little voice is right.
I bet he runs into her arms because that little boy up in heaven will be really proud to call this incredibly brave woman his mother.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
