In Memory of Mary Fielding

Mary Fielding was an ordinary child until the age of seven, when she was raped repeatedly by her father. Mary told her mother and subsequently Mary’s father was sent to jail. The trauma induced from these incidents caused Mary to contract the cranial illness of Dissociative Identity Disorder, also known as Multiple Personality Disorder. Mary’s mother did not believe that her father had raped her and consequently began to have feelings of hatred for Mary. Mary’s mother started beating Mary, until Mary was covered in bruises from head to toe. Her mother continually told Mary she was a ‘liar’ and a ‘bad girl’, until Mary fully believed she was a ‘bad girl’. This physical and verbal abuse prompted Mary’s illness to worsen greatly and Mary was sent to a care unit where she could be treated. However the therapist assigned to Mary became convinced that Mary was pretending to have the illness in order to gain attention. The therapist could not work with Mary and eventually persuaded Mary’s mother to change therapists. On November 6th 1978 Mary was moved to a secure institution in Kent, where she could not be visited, nor removed or transferred without full medical conformation and approval of the home secretary. She lasted eight days before committing suicide. Mary Fielding was only 16 years old.
Mary died on 14th November, 11 years before the day I was born. I never met her but when I learnt her story I was deeply moved. The questions arise: why was Mary allowed to kill herself when she was meant to be in a secure environment? Should people have a choice on their life and death? Why should some people have the authority over others to prevent them taking their lives? Are we saying that the people who believe life is worth living are more important than the people who find life not worth it? What is this prejudice we have that makes us believe this?
Mary Fielding is a fictional character. All references to the illness Dissociative Identity Disorder, although well researched, may be incorrect.