mamma kills brain damaged son with fatal dose of smack

**malq** · January 15th, 2010, 02:28 AM

Just curious what anyone thinks of this. We pulled the plug on my brother and let him die. The difference was they actually stopped life support.
She actually stopped his heart.
Still the principle remains. somewhat....

Frances Inglis, 57, of Dagenham, Essex, denies murdering Thomas Inglis, 22, on 21 November 2008 and an earlier attempt to kill him on 4 September 2007.

Mr Inglis was fatally injected with heroin at his Hertfordshire care home.

The Old Bailey jury heard she injected his arm and thighs after saying: "Everything's going to be fine." She was giving evidence about the moment she allegedly attempted to murder her son Tom in September 2007 in a bid to end his suffering. The Old Bailey has heard that Ms Inglis went on to succeed in killing the 22-year-old in November 2008.

I asked myself what Tom would want. He wouldn't have wanted to live like this

Frances Inglis

His mother said: "I held him, told him I loved him, told him everything was going to be fine, took the syringe, and I injected him in his thigh and his arm.
"Then he went to sleep. He was at peace. I stayed with him."
The defendant said she was convinced that the doctor treating her son at Queens Hospital in Romford, Essex, was lying about his chances of recovery.

He was left helpless after suffering severe head injuries when he fell out of an ambulance in July 2007, the jury has heard.

Ms Inglis said: "I knew I had to help him. I asked myself what Tom would want. He wouldn't have wanted to live like this. "I asked myself what I would want. I would want someone to love me enough to help me die.

"That's why I thought heroin - a painless, peaceful death."

Ms Inglis told the court she had started to research her son's condition on the internet within days of his accident. She also claimed she had to beg hospital staff to give him some relief for his "terrible pain".

Ms Inglis, who said she used to visit her son twice a day, was asked by her barrister Sasha Wass QC about the "encouraging" prognosis described by consultant surgeon Ragu Vindlacheruvu.

He had suggested "that Tom would be running his own business, walking, talking, independent, totally opposed to what everyone else had said and what I had seen with my own eyes", said the defendant.

"All I saw was horror, pain and tragedy," she said. She added: "I knew that Dr Vindlacheruvu was lying."

The case was adjourned until Friday.

**crickett** · January 15th, 2010, 03:09 AM

There was over a year between her two attempts. I think that he would have shown a great deal of improvement in that time if he were going to make such a complete recovery as the doctor described.
I would not want to live as a human vegetable. If there were no legal ways to end it for me without fighting it out in the courts for years...then, I'd want this lady to be my mother. She did the right thing.

**Marv** · January 15th, 2010, 06:00 AM

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle6988336.ece

It had been suggested that her son’s feeding might be withdrawn if it was decided it was no longer in his best interests to continue it, the court was told. But Mrs Inglis thought that a “very cruel, very painful way” to die. “The only, only thing I could do was what I decided to do,” she said.

Asked what had motivated her, she said: “Just totally, utterly concerned for Tom. I couldn’t leave my child like that."

How is it better to starve someone to death rather than just give them something to 'put them to sleep'?

If a person is cataclysmically brain damaged with no hope of recovery, or if they are terminally ill and in pain and want to die, then euthanasia should be available. Starving them to death should not be the only option.

And I agree with Crickett, it doesn't sound like the boy was making such great progress with his recovery, certainly not to the extent the doctor was suggesting.

**jus shaking my head** · January 15th, 2010, 08:15 AM

I was in the position to have to be the one to give permission to pull the plug on my father. I was told it would be a matter of minutes and he would be gone.

I was in another state in the hospital at the time. My baby sister sat and rocked him in her arms until 6:AM the next morning before he died.

My daughter lay in terrible pain for six months before her heart gave out. I was almost at this mother's point of helping my daughter.

We give animals the kindness of a quick pain free death. Why not our loved ones? Must we strip all humanness from our loved ones? Must they be either brain dead or a ball of agony before we offer them the same love and kindness?

**Dneilz** · January 15th, 2010, 08:55 AM

I think the mother did what was right for him. Malq, you and your family also made the decision that had to be made, given the circumstances. I for one, would not want to live if I were in this situation. When it comes to being on machines to keep me alive, or provide the necessary means to live.... just kill me.... btw, use heroine. :) Please no starvation, guns or suffering off a respirator. I would want a dignified death. Hopefully if I am ever in this place.... I can get what dogs, horses, cats, pigs, hamsters and other animals get.

**this is going badly** · January 17th, 2010, 09:54 PM

First, he fell out of an ambulance? What? Was that the reason the mother was being told he would recover?

I think that decissions like this rest with the family. Lagal and moral are not always the same. True there are people who will take advantage and off grandma but why does the behavior of low life determine what is legal for the majority of us?

**ImmortalOne** · January 17th, 2010, 10:29 PM

I've always believed in assisted suicide ever since "Doctor Death" here in Michigan... I think that if someone is suffering and has no hope, then there needs to be some dignity to it. If they were going to let him STARVE to death (which isn't humane) - then what the mother did is no different.

**penelopejo** · January 17th, 2010, 11:37 PM

Well, one article states he jumped:
http://www.bdpost.co.uk/content/bark...2009:11:09:133

She described the moment police broke the news that he had jumped from the back of an ambulance in July 2007 and the 'horrendous' site of him in intensive care fighting for his life.

And another says he fell after being picked up from a bar after someone punched him:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...injection.html

He fractured his skull and suffered bruising all over his brain which left him in a coma after falling from an ambulance taking him to hospital after he was punched outside a pub, the court heard.

**Marv** · January 20th, 2010, 07:53 PM

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ty-murder.html

A judge told a devoted mother 'you cannot take the law into your hands' as he jailed her for life yesterday for giving her brain-damaged son a lethal heroin overdose.
[...]

But yesterday she was convicted of murder with Judge Brian Barker telling her: 'You cannot take away life, however compelling you think the reason.'

He imposed a minimum jail term of nine years - which he is allowed to do under sentencing guidelines because of the 'mercy killing' nature of the case.

Inglis has already served 423 days on remand which will be deducted from her sentence - meaning she could be eligible for parole in seven and a half years.

Last night Thomas's father, brothers, girlfriend and other relatives said in statement they were standing by Inglis '100 per cent'.
[...]

Weeping members of Inglis's family, watching from the public gallery, shouted 'shame on you' at the jury when they delivered their verdicts after deliberating for six hours, 21 minutes.

**~Absynthe~** · January 20th, 2010, 08:13 PM

Like I have told my kids I brought you into this world I can take you out too.

**thehesbomb** · January 20th, 2010, 10:16 PM

I would like to think that (God forbid) the situation ever arose I would have the courage to give my son the ability to leave the world peacefully and painlessly.

**jus shaking my head** · January 20th, 2010, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by ImmortalOne

I've always believed in assisted suicide ever since "Doctor Death" here in Michigan... I think that if someone is suffering and has no hope, then there needs to be some dignity to it. If they were going to let him STARVE to death (which isn't humane) - then what the mother did is no different.

Yes it is different, ImmortalOne. Her way was quick and without the pain of starvation as you stated.

Dr. K is my hero! I hope when my time comes, I am able to do it to myself. It seems if our loved ones help us they go to prison. I want to die with dignity.

Probably the only time I would have dignity but there is hope for even trashy little me.

**ImmortalOne** · January 21st, 2010, 12:12 AM

Originally Posted by jus shaking my head

Yes it is different, ImmortalOne. Her way was quick and without the pain of starvation as you stated.

Dr. K is my hero! I hope when my time comes, I am able to do it to myself. It seems if our loved ones help us they go to prison. I want to die with dignity.

Probably the only time I would have dignity but there is hope for even trashy little me.

*Scratches head* Were we agreeing here? I think so, but making sure.

**jus shaking my head** · January 21st, 2010, 12:29 AM

Originally Posted by ImmortalOne

*Scratches head* Were we agreeing here? I think so, but making sure.

LOL, we are agreeing!

**ImmortalOne** · January 21st, 2010, 12:59 AM

Originally Posted by jus shaking my head

LOL, we are agreeing!

Okay lol just making sure. Had a long day and kinda outta of it with some pain meds. heh

**malq** · January 21st, 2010, 01:10 AM

But yesterday she was convicted of murder with Judge Brian Barker telling her: 'You cannot take away life, however compelling you think the reason.'

As much as I want to say she had the right, she crossed the line when she decided she was going to end it. And dammit it was hard to say that.
She did the right thing. Just not legally. and that in the same, is the point and the rub.

**malq** · January 21st, 2010, 01:11 AM

Originally Posted by ~Absynthe~

Like I have told my kids I brought you into this world I can take you out too.

right on sistah!

**Marv** · January 22nd, 2010, 05:36 AM

Originally Posted by malq

As much as I want to say she had the right, she crossed the line when she decided she was going to end it. And dammit it was hard to say that.
She did the right thing. Just not legally. and that in the same, is the point and the rub.

Yeah, it's a fine line between someone wanting to help their loved one to die a painless death rather than linger in agony, and someone who wants to off granny 'cos they don't want to wait for the inheritance.

That's why medics should be allowed to do it.

**Saffron** · January 22nd, 2010, 01:09 PM

I think that 9 years would be a small price to pay not to see my child suffer.

**this is going badly** · January 22nd, 2010, 01:20 PM

Jailed for life in the UK? This a country that allows postpardum depression as a defense for killing children before the age of two. What the fuck is wrong with these people? Prison is supposed to be for punishing people who are dangerous to society

There is something crazy going on when "faith healing" parents who allow their child to die of a chest cold get 60 DAYS in jail and this woman, who wanted to stop her childs suffering, gets life in prison!

**Dakota Valkyrie** · January 23rd, 2010, 10:19 AM

"Prior to Mrs Inglis's first attempt on her son's life there was medical opinion to suggest that Thomas might make progress in his recovery given time and treatment. Nobody knows what life Thomas may have been able to lead had he been given the medical treatment and support available to him. In administering the first injection of heroin, Mrs Inglis hampered his recovery. In giving the lethal injection she made the decision, on his behalf, to end his life."

http://www.herald24.co.uk/content/he...A14%3A13%3A673

Having been through "pulling the plug" process four separate times (most recently with my mother where I was the designated decision maker), I know all too well it is a painful and serious decision. This woman probably did what could have eventually been done. It's too bad that she didn't take the proper channels. I have a few family members that I would never allow to be in charge of my medical decisions. They either are incapable of understanding the complexities or are too emotional to function in such a situation.

I encourage and implore everyone to have a Living Will drawn up. You are never too young. Never assume that those that love you will "know". Although I was well aware of my mom's wishes, her very clear living will made the decisions much easier and helped other family members who had trouble with her death.

The US Living Will Registry has free info and forms for all states: http://liv-will1.uslivingwillregistry.com/forms.html

JUST DO IT! The life you save my be your own. The sanity saved may be your loved ones'.

**CadburyCremeGirl** · January 23rd, 2010, 01:55 PM

I agree with what everyone is saying. My mother has a living will and on various occasions has told me that if she ends up in a large amount of pain that she wants to be put in hospice where they can give you a comfort pack. She chose comfort pack because euthanasia is not legal in my state.
I have also been directed to pull the plug on her if she takes a turn for the worse and won't get better. It's really hard because I'm her only kid and for my own reasons don't want to...but if there is a painless way then I am all for it.

**Silvahalo** · January 23rd, 2010, 06:22 PM

I would hope that in my life as a mother, I would know what must be done to best serve my child's well being, even if that meant ending his life. Under these circumstances I would be compelled and almost certainly do the same thing. I could not bear to see my son suffer day in and day out and call that life. God help me, I would do the same.

Rest in peace Thomas Inglis. I believe you mother gave you that.