On 8 July, Maureen Slough, 58, from Cavan in Ireland, left home telling relatives she was flying to Lithuania for a short holiday with a friend. But instead of boarding a holiday flight, she travelled alone to Switzerland and joined Pegasos, an assisted dying group based in Liestal. Within just two days, she underwent assisted suicide at the cost of £15,000 (about Rs 17.7 lakh).

What stunned her family even more was that they learnt the truth too late. Her daughter, Megan Royal, recounted the chilling moment she discovered what was really happening. “A close friend of hers messaged me late on Wednesday night while I was in bed with the baby. He simply said, ‘Your mum’s in Switzerland… she wants assisted suicide,’” Megan told the Irish Independent. “I was terrified in that moment.”

A Promise Broken Overnight

Immediately after hearing the news, Megan and her father managed to reach Maureen by phone. That night, she assured them she would come back. But the relief did not last long. The next day, Megan received a devastating message from Pegasos itself. The WhatsApp note informed her that her mother had died — and that her ashes would be sent home in six to eight weeks.

“In that moment, I sat there with the baby in my arms and just cried,” Megan said. “I felt my world had ended.”

Pegasos later said Maureen had undergone psychiatric counselling, was declared “of sound mind,” and had reported chronic pain that she described as unbearable. The organisation defended its process as legitimate and carefully assessed.

Family Questions the Process

The family, however, reject this explanation. Megan admitted her mother had long battled bouts of depression and had attempted suicide in the past, but insisted she did not have terminal illness. “Of course she had pain — but not pain bad enough to justify ending her life. She should have had years left,” Megan said.

Adding to her anger, she accused Pegasos of inadequate verification. According to the organisation, an email exchange confirmed the family was aware of the decision. But Megan denies this completely. “It wasn’t even my email address,” she said. “In today’s world, almost everything requires a phone confirmation. Why not something as final as ending a life?”

What followed felt even more disturbing. “She was gone within two days, and that was the end of their contact with us. No condolence letter came with her ashes. Not even a fragile label on the box. Her urn just rattled its way across the post van,” Megan recalled.

Call for Answers

Her brother, Philip Slough, who works as a solicitor in the UK, has written to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office seeking an official probe. He alleged that Pegasos failed to stick to its own rules of informing relatives and described the circumstances as “highly questionable.”

Switzerland remains one of the few countries in the world where assisted suicide is permitted, having legalised it back in 1942. By law, the person must administer the fatal medication themselves, which makes it different from euthanasia, where a doctor directly ends life. But critics say that safeguards remain weak, allowing individuals with mental health issues but without terminal conditions to access the system.

Campaigners regularly warn of these loopholes. The fact that Maureen’s process was completed within just 48 hours has heightened concerns about whether sufficient checks can ever be guaranteed.

No Closure

By early August, Maureen’s ashes reached Ireland, weeks after her death in Switzerland. She was buried next to her two sisters in a quiet family ceremony. But the grief for her daughter remains sharp.

“Some people say to me, at least I didn’t have to discover her in a terrible way here at home,” Megan said. “But for me it was no different. It was just as painful.”

For Megan and her family, Maureen’s sudden absence has become not just personal mourning but also a call for accountability, raising new questions about how assisted suicide is regulated and whether families should have a stronger role in such life-ending decisions.

If you or someone you know is facing suicidal thoughts or mental health challenges, please seek help.

Support is available through these helplines:

National Suicide Prevention Helpline – 9152987821

Snehi India – 9152987821

AASRA Foundation – 91-22-2754-6669,

VISHWAS Helpline – 9152987821,

iCall Counselling – +(91) 9152987821.

Remember, you are not alone, and help is just a call away.

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