Charlotte Fitzmaurice Mother of a seriously ill girl who was euthanized at the request of her family Date of Birth: 07.2002Год Country: Great Britain

1. Charlotte Fitzmorris: A Mother's Heartbreaking Decision
2. The Struggles of Nancy
3. A Mother's Plea for a Merciful End

Charlotte Fitzmorris: A Mother's Heartbreaking Decision

Charlotte Fitzmorris, a 36-year-old resident of Ilford, Essex, found out two days before her daughter Nancy's birth in July 2002 that the baby would likely be severely ill. It was due to a late detection of Group B streptococcus, which could have been treated with antibiotics if caught earlier. However, the damage to the unborn child was almost inevitable without treatment. Nancy, blind and unable to walk, talk, eat, or drink without assistance, suffered from meningitis, sepsis, and hydrocephalus.

The Struggles of Nancy

At just ten days old, Nancy had to be fitted with a shunt, a small tube with a valve, to drain excess fluid from her brain. The condition was so severe that doctors feared she wouldn't live to see her fourth birthday. However, against all odds, Nancy survived much longer. In May 2012, after a procedure to remove kidney stones, Charlotte's daughter developed an infection. Specialists explained that there was nothing they could do to improve the situation. Nancy was put on a cocktail of morphine and ketamine to alleviate her suffering. Charlotte described this horrifying time as follows: "She's just a shell now. The light in her eyes fades and is replaced with fear and a desperate longing for peace." She added, "Sitting by her bedside, holding her hand, I felt utterly helpless. All the nurses were in tears as they witnessed her screaming and writhing in pain." Nancy screamed and writhed in pain 24 hours a day, breaking her parents' hearts.

A Mother's Plea for a Merciful End

It was during this time that Charlotte and David Wise, Nancy's father at 47, met with the ethics committee of Great Ormond Street Hospital to request an end to Nancy's suffering. The doctors agreed to stop the feeding process but explained that Nancy's suffering might continue for several more months before her body would finally give up. On August 7th of that year, the hospital decided to transfer Nancy's case to the High Court to prove that the child deserved a quicker and less painful death. Presiding Judge Eleanor King stated, "The love, devotion, and competence of Nancy's mother are evident. Within the confined world of Nancy, she did have a worthwhile life. Unfortunately, that has changed. Please could you convey to Nancy's mother my admiration and my very deep sympathy." Two weeks later, on August 21st, after the court ruled in favor of "the right to die," Nancy underwent euthanasia in the presence of her family. Her mother said, "The last day was the hardest of my life. It was absolutely horrific. I miss my beautiful girl every day. Yes, I know it was the right thing to do, but I will never forgive myself. A mother should never have to make the decision to end her child's life." Nancy's father added, "It was painful to see our daughter in such a state. Nancy never spoke, so we didn't know how she felt. What we did was the hardest decision we ever made."