British couple sign up to die in controversial ‘suicide pod’ at Swiss clinic

It comes after a terminal diagnosis

Peter and Christine Scott have been married for 46 years and intend to end their lives in each other's arms.

Peter, 86, is a former RAF engineer while his wife Christine, 80, is a retired nurse and made the decision after Christine was recently diagnosed with early-stage vascular dementia.

The couple intend to become the first British couple to end their lives together in a duel suicide pod in Switzerland as reported by the Mail on Sunday reports.

The Scotts say their decision was motivated by fears of having to deal with years of illness in old age within a failing NHS system while also losing their home and life savings through paying expensive care costs.

The couple, who have six grandchildren, also said they had had discussions with their son and daughter who reluctantly accepted the decision.

Peter and Christine are currently going through the process of registering with The Last Resort, an assisted dying organisation based in Switzerland.

The centre unveiled its new Sarco pod back in July which offers the chance for two people to die together.

Peter, from Mellis in Suffolk said: “We have had long, happy, healthy, fulfilled lives but here we are in old age and it does not do nice things to you.

“The idea of watching the slow degradation of Chris's mental abilities in parallel to my own physical decline is horrific to me.

“Obviously I would care for her to the point I could not, but she has nursed enough people with dementia during her career to be adamant she wants to remain in control of herself and her life. Assisted dying gives her that opportunity and I would not want to go on living without her.

“We understand other people may not share our feelings and we respect their position. What we want is the right to choose. I find it deeply depressing we can't do that here in the UK.

Christine, who has already thought much about her last days, added: “I’d like to go walking with Peter in the Swiss Alps, by a river. I’d have a beautiful plate of fish for my last supper, and enjoy a great bottle of Merlot.

“I’d make a playlist including Wild Cat Blues and The Young Ones by Cliff Richard and I’ve found a poem called Miss Me But Let Me Go, which sums up exactly how I feel.”

In England in Wales aiding someone to commit suicide is a criminal offence, however, last week Labour MP Jack Richards spoke in the House of Commons about change on the matter.

He said that the country needs to “reform our archaic assisted dying laws”.

Meanwhile Lord Falconer of Thoroton, former Labour justice secretary, has begun the process of introducing the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill in the House of Lords and is expected to be debated in mid-November.

Despite acknowledging the need for debate on the matter, the Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said he is “uncharacteristically undecided” on the topic.