Inquest into death of terminally ill boy whose mum ended life

Antonya Cooper died from incurable cancer in July and her son Hamish died in 1981 after being diagnosed with neuroblastoma

PA Media Old photo of Antonya, who has dark hair, and her son Hamish. Hamish has no hair. They are both smiling into the camera. Hamish appears to be sat on Antonya and Antonya is sat on a red chair — Antonya Cooper died from incurable cancer in July and her son Hamish died in 1981 after being diagnosed with neuroblastoma

An inquest has opened into the death of a terminally ill seven-year-old boy after his mother said she gave him morphine at home to “quietly end his life”.

Antonya Cooper, from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, said her son Hamish had stage 4 cancer and was in “a lot of pain” before his death in December 1981.

She made the admission on BBC Radio Oxford in July as part of an effort to change the law on assisted dying, and herself died of incurable cancer days later.

Oxfordshire coroner Darren Salter opened Hamish’s inquest in Oxford and adjourned it until 5 February.

Hamish had neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that mostly affects children.

He was five when diagnosed and was initially given a prognosis of three months.

Following 16 months of “beastly” cancer treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital, his life was extended but he was left in great pain, according to his mother.

Hamish had been left in great pain following 16 months of cancer treatment, his mother said

PA Media A picture of Hamish, who is stood in front of plants, seemingly leaning in towards the camera. He has short, curly, blonde hair and is wearing a blue jumper and red shirt — Hamish had been left in great pain following 16 months of cancer treatment, his mother said

She said: “On Hamish’s last night, when he said he was in a lot of pain, I said: ‘Would you like me to remove the pain?’ and he said: ‘Yes please, mama.’

“And through his Hickman Catheter, I gave him a large dose of morphine that did quietly end his life.”

Police visited Mrs Cooper’s home before her death but were unable to speak to her.

Assisted suicide – intentionally helping another person to end their life – and euthanasia – deliberately ending a person’s life – are illegal in England.

Mrs Cooper, who helped launch Neuroblastoma UK, said Hamish had undergone 16 months of treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) which “ruined parts of his body” but extended his life.

Seeing the side effects of the treatment had been heartbreaking, but she said GOSH staff had been “so embracing” and supportive.

Ms Cooper said Hamish’s death had been like an “amputation” that she would “never get over”, but helping launch the neuroblastoma charity had helped her cope.

Four decades after Hamish’s death she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and then pancreatic cancer, which spread to her liver.

In July, the 77-year-old died “pain free, at home and surrounded by her loving family”, her daughter Tabitha told the BBC.

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