Edward Downes - Death

Death

Although not terminally ill, Downes had been coping with increasing deafness and near total blindness for many years. He had become almost totally dependent on his wife after his health declined following a hip replacement. Lady Downes was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer metastasised to her liver and given weeks to live.

Lady Downes wrote a letter to family explaining that she had decided against treatment and that:

"All the plans that need to be made had been.

Now, I must tell you that even though I had hoped to be around a bit longer, death doesn’t worry me at all.

I have no religion and as far as I am concerned it will be an "offswitch" so after you have thought about it a bit don’t worry.

It has been a happy and interesting life and I have no regrets. I have no idea how long I will last but I send love to you all and your extensive families.

Enjoy it while it lasts.

With love to you all, Joan."

Sir Edward, aged 85, and Lady Downes, aged 74, ended their lives by assisted suicide at the Dignitas clinic in Zürich, Switzerland, on 10 July 2009. Although Joan did not want the children present, Dignitas encouraged it and "Ted and Joanie" were reported to be pleased when the time came. Their children issued a statement speaking of "serious health problems" suffered by the couple. A statement issued by the couple's children said that while Downes could have gone on living with his deafness and blindness, he did not want to do so after his wife was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

In March 2010, Keir Starmer (director of public prosecutions) stated that Caractacus Downes would not be prosecuted for his involvement with his parents' assisted suicide because it was not in the public interest.