Cancer sufferer Donald Childs took his own life (From York Press)

Cancer sufferer Donald Childs took his own life

7:47am Monday 22nd March 2010 in

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A CANCER patient chose to end his life rather than live with the pain of his condition, a York inquest heard.

Retired Huntington pattern-maker Donald Childs was diagnosed with a cancer of the oesophagus in 2003, and had a history of depression dating back to 1982.

When the cancer was found to be malignant in early 2009, the inquest heard Mr Childs had great difficulty eating, and was in an increasing amount of pain.

The inquest also heard a statement from Mr Childs’ wife of 52 years, Catherine.

After returning from a dentists’ appointment lsat June, Mrs Childs was approaching the door to the rear of their house, when she spotted a note in her husband’s handwriting nailed to the door of the shed.

In her statement, Mrs Childs told how she forced open the shed door, and found her husband’s body hanging from the rafters.

She immediately called an ambulance, but paramedics pronounced Mr Childs dead at the scene. The inquest heard that at no time in the months leading up to his death did Mr Childs appear suicidal, but he had lost a lot of weight due in part to his throat problems and diet.

Coroner Donald Coverdale read a report from Mr Childs’ GP stating the 75-year-old had been struggling to eat solid food for some time, and was taking pain management medication. Summing up, Mr Coverdale said Mr Childs’ cause of death was hanging, but his suffering had exacerbated the pain he was in.