Pair die together at Swiss clinic

A British couple who were both suffering from terminal cancer have died at a voluntary euthanasia clinic in Switzerland.

Peter and Penelope Duff, from Bath, ended their lives at the Dignitas clinic in Zurich last Friday.

Their daughter Helena Conibear said her father, who was 80, and her mother, who was 70, had "passed away peacefully together" at the centre.

It is not known exactly how Mr and Mrs Duff died.
Mr Duff had been suffering from colon and liver cancer and his wife had been suffering from a rare form of cancer.

Their decision in no way reflected on the wonderful and humbling care they have received from their consultant, doctors and nurses
Duff family statement

Mr Duff was a respected expert on wine and the couple were well-known patrons of the arts in Bath, including the city's annual festival.

In a statement, the family said: ''Peter and Penny Duff passed away peacefully together in Zurich, after a long battle against their terminal cancer, on 27 February.

''Penny had fought a rare cancer, GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumour), since 1992 and Peter's colon cancer had spread to his liver.

''Their decision in no way reflected on the wonderful and humbling care they have received from their consultant, doctors and nurses, for which the family, and they, were so appreciative."

'Sad case'
A spokesman for the Bath Festival, said: ''They were great patrons of the arts who supported our festivals for many years, although their chief involvement was with music."

One hundred British people are said to have been helped to die by the centre in Switzerland.

Dignitas, which has operated in and around Zurich for 10 years, said the figure was reached in October 2008.

A spokesman for the anti-euthanasia group Care Not Killing said: "This is a desperately sad and unusual case of a couple in a state of distress.

"However, hard cases make bad law and the fact remains that if euthanasia was ever legalised in Britain vulnerable and seriously ill people would come under pressure to end their lives prematurely."