Daughter defends father's 'dignified' death at suicide clinic

A daughter has defended her disabled father's decision to end his life in a Swiss clinic which led to two of his friends being arrested on suspicion of assisting his suicide.

Retired engineer Douglas Sinclair, 76, had the debilitating disorder multiple system atrophy and his body was shutting down when he travelled from a care home in Jarrow, South Tyneside, to an assisted suicide clinic in Zurich.

He died on July 28 and a notice in his local newspaper stated the widower passed away "peacefully and with dignity following an illness courageously borne".

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His daughter, Helen Sinclair, from Darlington, Co Durham, was abroad and unavailable for comment.

She told the Evening Chronicle newspaper in Newcastle that her father, a popular and caring man, was left devastated by the loss of his wife Monica 10 years ago from leukaemia. Her father made a clear decision to die "with dignity", she said.

The 41-year-old said: "Although this was disturbing and upsetting for me, I respect his decision and hope others respect my wishes to grieve in private."

Two of Mr Sinclair's friends were arrested when they returned from Zurich.

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Northumbria Police said: "A 47-year-old woman and a 48-year-old man from South Shields have been arrested on suspicion of intentionally doing an act to assist or encourage suicide following the death of a 76-year-old man in Switzerland.

"Both have been bailed pending further inquiries."

Northumbria Police will investigate the events leading to Mr Sinclair's death and the decision of whether to charge anyone will be made by the Director of Public Prosecutions, the most senior figure in the Crown Prosecution Service.

It was believed the two people took legal advice before Mr Sinclair travelled to Switzerland.

Solicitor Chris Potts, of the firm Patterson, Glenton and Stracey, accompanied them during their police interviews after they were arrested.

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He said: "They have explained what they did or did not do to police. It would be inappropriate to comment beyond that."

Mr Potts said the two people do not want to speak publicly about the case while the police investigation was under way.

In February the DPP published guidelines on assisted suicide cases which outlined public interest factors to be considered for and against each prosecution.

Among the factors against prosecution were whether the suspect was motivated by compassion, and whether he or she had co-operated with investigators.

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Former neighbour Joe Bolam, 68, of Highfield Drive, South Shields, said Mr Sinclair was well-known in the area.

He said: "He was a smashing bloke." Mr Bolam said he believed people should have the right to decide when to die.

According to the Multiple System Atrophy Trust, the early stages of the condition are similar to Parkinson's disease.

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