My mother, my best friend and my misdiagnosis

Decca Aitkenhead was nine when a GP risked jail to help her mother to die. Years later she watched her best friend succumb to the slow torture of Huntington's disease, and for a few days she found herself confronting her own death. She tells Jane Mulkerrins how those experiences have shaped her views on assisted dying. 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: Decca Aitkenhead, Chief Interviewer, The Sunday Times.

Host: Jane Mulkerrins.

Producer: Edward Drummond.

Further reading: I was 9 when a GP risked jail to help mum die. The law must change

Further listening: The debate about death that split the country

Clips: ITV/Concord Media, Parliament.

Photo: Decca Aitkenhead. 

Get in touch: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Story: the flagship podcast from The Times and Sunday Times. One remarkable story, told in depth, each day.

Hosts Manveen Rana and Luke Jones take you to the heart of the story you need to know with exclusive reports and investigations.

Discover the story behind the story with world-class journalism from The Times and Sunday Times.

The Story is available at the start of your day from Monday to Friday, with bonus ‘Inside the Newsroom’ episodes every Saturday for Times subscribers, available by connecting your subscription via Apple Podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

• No. of episodes: 1,514
• Latest episode: 2025-06-25
• News Daily News Politics

Where can you listen?