Finger on the Pulse: who can know the pain of wanting to die? Mrs Turnball wants to die. “Will you talk to her, Max?” asks one of her doctors. “Maybe prescribe her something?” I glance down at her notes. Mrs Turnball is in her late forties. Fourteen years ago she suffered horrific injuries in a car crash. She had a bleed into her brain that left her paralysed and unable to care for herself, and is now reliant on carers for even the most basic tasks.
Urgent support
We support people facing the end of life and promote choice at that time; we don’t provide information about methods of ending life. For urgent support, Samaritans are on 116 123, free, day or night. Breathing Space is on 0800 83 85 87. For questions about your own care, your GP or palliative care team is the right first call.