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A RETIRED PALLIATIVE care nurse has ended her own life at a Swiss euthanasia clinic as she did not wish to face the “awful” reality of old age.
Gill Pharaoh had spent most of her life caring for the elderly and had written two books on the subject.
At the time of her death she was not suffering from any major disease or illness.
Interviewed by The Sunday Times shortly before her death on 21 July, the 75-year-old said that her decision was based on her experience looking after older people.
“I have looked after people who are old, on and off, all my life. I have always said, ‘I am not getting old. I do not think old age is fun.’ I know that I have gone just over the hill now. It is not going to start getting any better,” she said.
I would rather go out when I am not quite at a peak. I have dropped off a bit but I want to be still me, recognisably me and not have people look and think, ‘Oh, are you Gill, were you Gill?’
The Telegraph has reported that between 2008 and 2012, one fifth of the 611 people that travelled to Switzerland to end their own lives were from the UK.
Pharaoh leaves behind her husband John and her daughter Caron.
In May British man Jeffrey Spector killed himself at an assisted dying centre in Switzerland, six years after being diagnosed with an inoperable tumour on his spinal column that was set to eventually lead to his paralysis.
Spector’s final days were documented on video, in which he conceded that he may have been ending his life too soon, but that he believed he had a “human right to dignity”.
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Its her life, surely she is entitled to do what she wants with it. I hope she is at peace.
It’s not just her life, it’s the life of the husband she’s left behind and alone.
So she should go on living just to keep others happy? I’m glad to see most comments on here respecting this woman’s choice.
@Neal Ireland Hello, were you her husband? You don’t know what the husband thinks so stop speculating
“Its her life, surely she is entitled to do what she wants with it” Good, lets close pieta house too? I can’t believe some people have so little value in their own/others lives. She was 75 too not 100. Killing yourself is never the answer to depression which is obiviously what she was suffering from. She should be chastised rather then championed on here.
She must have been one selfish individual.
Paul, What a disgusting comment
@dmn. Your reply makes no sense. “She was 75 too not 100. “, so YOU have decided that 75 is too young but 100 is fine?
“She should be chastised”?…………. Well you are the milk of human kindness, aren’t you.
I would assume that the decision involved her husband and daughter and Dignitas would have insisted on that.
Finally, as you wont even give your proper name, your response really is worthless anyway.
Dave,
Take your outrage and shove it.
Suicide for this reason can only be selfish or insane.
“She was 75 too not 100″ was in relation to some comments saying she lived her life etc. I DON’T think 100 is FINE either to kill youself. But many on here seem to think at 75 you lived your life and I wonder do they have any elderly relations that they think should kill themselves?
Prince Charles springs to mind…
But I’m not sure if he’s a reader…
she had a lifetimes experience of seeing end of life situations. her choice should be respected. brave lady. RIP
Brave personal decision. Nobody else can judge her. RIP.
A brave decision,an informed one and perhaps a sensible one. There’s no denying that old age will kill you.
why is it brave?
The most permanent decision one can ever make, I doubt you’ve ever encountered anything like it.
@Mark Ryan……..”How is it brave?”, “Why is it brave?”
Your literary talent is inspiring.
Exactly what I need to read after a Bank Holiday and shite weather.
Read this touching story online yesterday, she was absolutely stunning in youth like a young Elizabeth Taylor. Maybe the loss of those stunning looks as well as her experience of nursing the old and frail were also a factor in her decision. As Betty Davis once said “Getting old is not for sissies.”
See what Donal Walsh said about suicide here:
http://youtu.be/Dq-OJ4GtPuY
Any idiot who supports euthanasia should think about a world where only the rich grow old. The libtards who are afraid of pain should consider what life is like in less fortunate societies.
We all live for a reason.
Is she related to the other 75 year old palliative care nurse that did the very same thing the other day? I read all about it in The Journal.
why are we seeing this article again ? we all commented in this the other day
That’s the Journal for you, sure we are constantly reading the same regurgated “story”about that Irish/Egyptian who got a couple of visitors. (That was NEWSTALKS main story yesterday (BH Monday)I kid you not!
In fairness, the story repeated throughout the day was that his lawyer believes Ibrahim potentially faces the death penalty- not just that he had received visitors. Regurgitated news is what all media calls the “news cycle”. Every story is covered in this way unfortunately.
yes, the Journal are pushing euthanasia at the moment.
I suppose it makes a change from the constant pushing of their abortion agenda.
They have gone very quiet on abortion – since the Planned Parenthood foetal organ selling scandal, blew up in America about a fortnight ago.
A massive story, causing shockwaves in the US, almost completely ignored by the Irish media.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjxwVuozMnU
Please go away………
Will you give over Zoe. You’re lucky the media didn’t pick up on it because it have been labeled as a hoax. The Video edited by Right Wing Extremists / Pro Life groups
To respect this ladies decision. Indeed her provision has been the main contributor in he choice, however I think a response from the public of “she did the right thing” or ” who wants to become a hindrance” is very dangerous. Yes she is entitled to make her own decision but, it is her own decision. I think it should be respected whilst at the same time it been respected with dignity. People saying things like “You are only a hindrance at that age any way” Can have a more widespread impact on the elderly population who might come across such public sentiment. And forming some sort of believe in society that ” I’m 73, this lady decided to take her own life, she did not want to be a burden, should I do the same? Again, I respect her decision but I believe people who also respect it should respect it quietly.
public seem to think it’s debatable”
Apologies for the spelling errors. Very last sentence was originally incorporated into my comment.
Martin
The debate seems to be based around her age. Theoretically, the decision to end one’s life is about quality of life, not the age of the person.
I do see where you are coming from in terms where “becoming a hindrence at that age anyway” could put society on a slippery slope but I doubt that.
I totally respect her right to do this.
Not much longer left, Gerry.
Wrong to kill yourself in good health. It is for God to determine when someone dies.
Unless, ya know, maybe there is no God. I’m pretty sure I’m just feeding the troll here anyway.
Soooo…. How do you feel about medical procedures that prolong life?
Ah how cute maybe Santa clause helps him decide
Why didn’t God stop her then?
Jaysus, if the God in question is Loki then we’re all fecked…he’ll have us dead in a snap!
@. I think you just got your answer as to whether people think God exists!
What if… There is a god???
Call a spade a spade story here is. ‘Nurse commits suicide’ euthanasia has nothing to do with it
Can’t understand why people still argue on the existence or non existence of a God. When’s it’s blatantly obvious there isn’t one.
If an animal is in pain and there isn’t much hope of it surviving they are often put to sleep as it’s the humane thing to do. Why then, do we expect people who are in pain and who have no hope to just continue suffering? Who are we to tell people who’ve been in accidents or have illnesses that cause them to loose mobility that they have to stay living like that. Euthanasia should be there to help these people. They should have a choice. They should not have to travel and be away from their loved ones to make that choice. It’s sad. I don’t fully understand why this lady chose to end her life was she was still in fairly good health but it was her choice. At least she got to say goodbye to her family and explain to them why.
@Caroline. first of all, I’m going to say that my thoughts on AS/euthanisia are very conflicted. On a philosophical level, I’m against it as I think it could lead to the undervaluing of life in all its forms. However, on a personal, human level, I can see how it could help. But comparing people to animals is not an argument. The reasons are manifold, but in response to your analogy, the animal being put down is never asked its opinion. An owner and possible a vet makes the decision on behalf of the animal. For all we know, the little dog may well prefer to spend its last days lying on a cushion in front of the fire instead of getting an injection in a sterile vet’s surgery. I would hate to see the same thing happen to people
I take on board your comment that the animal doesn’t get a say. You are right about that. I would hope though the decision was made with the best intentions. It was done because the animal was suffering. So why then are people who can speak for themselves, who can say what they want being ignored?
Yah..so what? Why do people keep thinking these stories are newsworthy?
This is just very sad. As a fellow professional , I can understand her experience of the indignity that SOMETIMES happens when we are frail , infirm and need assistance with daily care needs. I believe she was assisted insofar as the medicines she needed to commit suicide were prescribed for her. This therefore is not euthanasia but assisted suicide. Suicide is no longer against the law so I do respect her decision. However i think it is sad because i do not agree with assisted suicide and i certainly do not agree with euthanaisa. I am saddened by the fact that this lady looked after dying people in her career and this had caused her to want to end her life whilst she is still well and free from illness. I cannot think of a good reason why this is acceptable, we as society should argue that all life is precious and important and do all we can to make life liveable even when someone / anyone is palliative or dying.
Yes its a personal choice but suicide (even in an institution) does have consequences. The woman asked her family and friends to be OK with her choice – which is a huge burden to put on them, however well intentioned and however nicely handled it appears. This video is a woman who lost a husband and son to suicide. While she had the added burden of not knowing, her words are worth hearing here in the light of all the comments about it being ‘her choice’ and ‘not wanting to be a burden’. Pain isn’t vanished away, its often just transferred to others … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfPwM4eupck
It’s a complex issue, however I fully support the principle of euthanasia if the decision is a rational one. I am very uncomfortable with the idea that Dignitas charges 5000 Euros for the privilege. Should this be a profit making enterprise?
Totally agree with you
Ideally, the Irish government should allow euthanasia, and enable people – after meeting strict criteria – to take their own life, surrounded by their family, in their own home. It is a difficult enough decision without having to travel to a grim industrial park in Switzerland to do it.
we actually treat animals more humanely than we do people. I fully support euthanasia but agree there needs to be strict guidelines.
I agree – it’s terrible that my dog can be euthanised at home, in a familiar compassionate setting, but I’d have to hop on a plane!
I know it nearly makes you want to laugh at the word “humane”
These services exist in Switzerland and the Netherlands and don’t make large profits. Their cost and distance does however restrict choice to those with significant funds. A Swiss solution to an Irish problem is inevitably an expensive one.
I personally think its selfish, i dont care how many people red thumb me!! That woman was healthy, she may have lived to be in her 90′s or beyond. Not every elderly person gets sick. I find the whole thing very disturbing and such disrespect to life. It will just open the floodgates for others in good health to do the same.Im totally at a loss why so many on here are agreeing with it!
If this becomes legal here I can just see the elderly feeling pressurised in to doing this because they worry about becoming a burden on their family/society.
She assumed she’d be a miserable, sick old person. I know many elderly people who are healthy, happy and full of life. I ran into a 93 year old friend today who’s still driving, socialising and living independently. Maybe there was more going on here than simply not wanting to grow old. Its a very one sided/depressive perspective on age. ( perhaps not surprising given her job.) I suspect she was suffering from some form of depression or mental illness too.
Should she have not seen a councillor first? As she felt unwanted by her family?
The ageing process is barbaric. I hope they find a cure for it soon. Still I don’t think the fear of old age which is what she seemed to be suffering from is reason enough for someone to kill themselves. Being confined to a bed in a nursing home might be, but she was nowhere that stage. I agree with her right to make the choice just not with the choice she made.
have your say