Unbroken Trust: A Memoir of Love

Abstract

Unbroken Trust is my record of an intense emotional journey told through the juxtaposition of legal statements and stark police interview transcripts alongside the memories of my life with Paul, before and during his desperation of living with a form of ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Post-viral disability.

My intension is that this literature review should act as a bridge between my manuscript and my raison d’être or conscience regarding the way I honoured my beloved partner’s wishes and allowed him to fulfill his choice, his ‘right to die’. In addition, Unbroken Trust is an historical document directly related to a test case; the assisted suicide guidelines issued in England in 2010 and possibly the unfinished legislation progressing through parliament steered by Lord Falconer, with an intended outcome predicted to be issued by the Law Lords. Neither the manuscript nor this essay enters the ‘right to die’ debate. Rather both document a profound personal experience and offer a literary perspective on a timeless issue – how do you allow someone you love to die with respect and dignity?