Assisted dying bill

Caleo

Shinamae, join Exit and get instructions. I did but have forgotten the exact instructions. I do remember Exit tells how to make a simple comfortable face mask that suffocates you AFTER you take the pills, just to ensure the pills work.

It is very difficult to get the pills unfortunately unless online and that is not reliable, you could be sent rubbish.

I will PM you….

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I hope there are enough safeguards in place to assure that no one is coerced into ending their life. It should be up to the patient if they are of sound mind of course. The thought of anyone ending up alone in Switzerland in that little room as its the only way to end their suffering is heartbreaking. No one should have to do that. Esther Ranzen has made her views very clear, it should be her decision. What worries me is the lack of good palluative care, it's a lottery, also feeling a nuisance to their families who don't care enough or are alone and can't manage. I have known a few like that.

On radio 4 Any Answers this afternoon a caller from the Netherlands said they passed a bill in 2002 with which the majority are happy and she compared the humane deaths of family members there with family members in the UK. In 23 years the Netherlands must have advice for the UK on avoiding coercion and any other problems the debate here throws up.
Another caller in the UK said her dearly loved DH took 28 long days in a hospice to finally die from a terminal painful illness. He asked the Drs to be able to die every day. How terrible for him and for his wife.
There must be choice for the medics and the patients. Those who are not happy with assisted suicide need not take part in any way. But as many callers said today you would be criminalised if you allowed a pet to suffer in a similar way.

I feel strongly that people should be allowed this choice.
Someone who is alone & can't manage is likely to end up in A&E or with GP & then residential care / help at home will be looked at, not assisted dying.
Disabled people who are protesting wouldn't meet the criteria anyway as although they have a long term condition without a known cure, they haven't been given a prognosis of 6 months or less.
As other posters have said, the law can be strengthened if we find applications where it's not genuinely the patient's strongly-held wish.
Good palliative care is hugely important but fear of suffering is a problem even if pain control is perfect, and for some people it would help immeasurably to know they are in control, they have that choice.

The Bill has passed with a majority of 23.

Claremont

The Bill has passed with a majority of 23.

I do not think there are enough safe guards in this legislation.

UK is now in a slippery slope, Abortion available up to 40 weeks and legal euthanasia of the elderly, ill and infirm.

NO, NO and more NO. This bill will give the choice to a very small number of people, in clear, well defined conditions, to choose to end their own life in total safety. And it certainly does NOT, in any way, shape or form, legalise euthnasia. Not for those with terminal illness with an estimated 6 months to live- and NOT at all ever, for the elderly or infirm, or ill with a non terminal illness.

As for abortion, let's not mix everything up for goodness sake!

For your info, I am very concerned about abortion being available beyond 16 weeks, and beyond 24 weeks unless in extremely exceptional medical circumstances.

For Assisted Dying, the choice will have to be very clearly made by the person, and self administered. This is NOT euthanasia.

It is shameful. This is what happens when the labour party is filled with the middle class. I will never vote fir them again

Claremont I do not respond when shouted at.

You are as entitled to your opinion as I am mine.

Galaxy

It is shameful. This is what happens when the labour party is filled with the middle class. I will never vote fir them again

I didn’t vote for them thank goodness.

I didn't vote for them in the last local elections but voted for Starmer.

I didn't shout, apologies, but wanted to emphasize as the words you use did not state an opinion, but falsehood- mixing euthanasia and assisted dying is totally wrong.

Many of those who voted in favour are not Labour MPs.

MPs should not be allowed to deny other people a choice because they have a particular religious point of view, as things stand people with terminal illness are forced to endure pain and suffering towards the end because by that time they are physically unable to end their own life and anyone assisting them would face imprisonment, this results in people who could still have many good months ahead going to Dignitas alone because they can't risk leaving it any longer. The Assisted Dying Bill would allow people to enjoy life for as long as they can knowing a pain free, peaceful death is their choice. Watching loved ones die in pain is horrendous, I remember my Dad saying his pain was "beyond human endurance"no one should have to suffer because a certain number of MPs have decreed they must. I keep hearing that better palliative care is required and I totally agree with that but far too many die in A&E departments or hospital wards when they could have had a dignified death at home. Given the state of the NHS at present (due to various governments not the dedicated staff who do their best) I am very doubtful that palliative care will be made a priority if this bill fails.

I know who voted for it believe me, I am currently standing in solidarity with both Diane Abbot, Corbyn etc which is a strange place to be but it was the labour party who brought this into parliament. I resigned my membership when they announced it.

Galaxy

I know who voted for it believe me, I am currently standing in solidarity with both Diane Abbot, Corbyn etc which is a strange place to be but it was the labour party who brought this into parliament. I resigned my membership when they announced it.

I must admit never in a million years could I have seen myself on the same side of a debate as Corbyn or Abbott 🤷‍♀️

It is a funny one as you also have reform in most cases voting against it, Sunak voted for it if I remember rightly and Rayner against.

I’m relieved this bill passed.

On day four of being with my husband as his life slowly faded away, one of our daughters said - mum we should be able to help him. You wouldn’t let one of your dogs suffer like this. We were fortunate, I stayed with our daughters at his bedside for eight days. We wanted to bring him home to die. The consultant explained he was too unstable to move. We were given a small side room. The nursing and ancillary staff were wonderful. It was so important to be with him but traumatic as well.

I nursed my grandma who had multiple cancers in 1976, she stayed at home with pain relief until 24 hours before she died.

Palliative care was provided and did an excellent caring service.

I nursed my mother in my home until 11 days before she died. She then when into a hospice.

Both fabulous kind women who clung onto life until their very last breath, the thought of them maybe being manipulated by unscrupulous professionals (please don’t tell me that these people do not exist, as I know they do, as does history) fills me with dread.

How many times have we heard elderly people say I don’t want to be a burden to my family ? I have seen posts on GN as such.

No amount of shouty letters will change my mind, I am totally against this bill.

I've just had to watch my FiL (98) slowly starve himself to death over a period of three weeks because he had literally lost the will to live. What he endured, I would not wish on anyone. Believe me, if my OH or I could have done anything to ease his passing, we would have granted him that final kindness. Dying with dignity? There was no dignity whatsoever for him...

Neither of my parents had a peaceful death and were in extreme pain at the end despite medication. It was heartbreaking and I wouldn’t want my children to witness my demise in same manner and always said I would go to Dignitas. I for one am therefore delighted with today’s decision.

I think this is the issue that everyone has a story but the stories of the risks to the vulnerable, those at risk of coercion are hypothetical so don't carry the same weight.

GrannyGravy13

I nursed my grandma who had multiple cancers in 1976, she stayed at home with pain relief until 24 hours before she died.

Palliative care was provided and did an excellent caring service.

I nursed my mother in my home until 11 days before she died. She then when into a hospice.

Both fabulous kind women who clung onto life until their very last breath, the thought of them maybe being manipulated by unscrupulous professionals (please don’t tell me that these people do not exist, as I know they do, as does history) fills me with dread.

How many times have we heard elderly people say I don’t want to be a burden to my family ? I have seen posts on GN as such.

No amount of shouty letters will change my mind, I am totally against this bill.

And all the credit to you, and I am glad that it was peaceful and painless. But Hospice places are often not available and some cancers do not respond well to morphine in terminal phase.

So many have witnessed unbearable pain for loved ones, unable to help them at all. My heart goes to all of them. Many doctors and nurses will tell you about so many cases too.

Every step will be taken to ensure no coercion, from family or staff.

However, what is wrong in not wanting to be 'a burden'- in not wanting your ACs taking much time off to hold your hand and watch you suffer, unable to help. I do not with to want to suffer in latter stages of cancer, part of this for myself, part of this to not leave my family with terrible memories of those last stages in my loss of everything over an extended period. And I would not wish for the cost of looking after me in those last stages, to be taken off the budget for those who need it and have a lfe n front of them. What's wrong with that?

(I have checked, and this is totally irrelevant- caps are only considered 'shoutint' if continuous, but totally fine for emphasis of a word or two.)

Galaxy

I think this is the issue that everyone has a story but the stories of the risks to the vulnerable, those at risk of coercion are hypothetical so don't carry the same weight.

Exactly