Assisted dying bill

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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.

Sorry to hear, and of course I totally understand your concerns. Going to Dignitas is only for the well-off, at about 12 to 14k including flights, special help, doctors, etc. and only for those well enough to travel, often too early, for the fear of no longer being able to. And of course, without spouse, partner, Acs or friends, for fear of them being prosecuted on return.

People who want that choice should never have to have to trave away from home, family and friends. And should be available to all who 'qualify', irrespective of bank account or physical strength.

Nanato3

If I'm right I think this bill is only for terminally Ill people.
Why ? Everyone should have the right to end their lives if they can't cope with their illness anymore.

Leaving people in terrible pain and a slow death is barbaric.

This says everything. I totally agree.

I’m very relieved that it’s been passed. I want to be able to make the decision when and if the time comes.

I hope Scotland follows suit, and with haste. Although there are differences in the Scottish bill, no life expectancy clause for one.

I’m very frightened. I’m disabled and ill and my most recent hospitalisation has given me no confidence that decisions taken by doctors will be in my best interests.

No, I do not have 100% trust in doctors, do they never make the wrong diagnosis?

Anniebach

No, I do not have 100% trust in doctors, do they never make the wrong diagnosis?

Of course they do, they are only human. But terminal cancer is just that- the diagnosis was made a long time ago, invasive and debilitating treatment given, sometimes with a plateau, and often it strikes back later, and no longer responds to treatment- and the situation is very clear. The exact number of months is not totally accurate, but if the patient says they can't face any more of said treatment (as my friend has done today after several years of fighting her best ever fight, and with the best treatment and care) - then the situation is terminal, and clearly so. And at the end of the day, at the end of the fight, at the end of life - they will now have the choice. And that is such a relief. And amazing relief to that their family will not be prosecuted for being there for them.

BTW, in the olden days, not so long ago, doctors could help humanely, on request, to shorten end stage. Since Shipman, that is totally .gone

Blossoming

I’m very frightened. I’m disabled and ill and my most recent hospitalisation has given me no confidence that decisions taken by doctors will be in my best interests.

I am so sorry to hear and wish you all the best. But it won't be up to doctors to make that decision, at all. You would have to apply, making a clear request. Nobody can force you to do this.

I am so sorry Blossoming, the voices of those with disabilities are frequently ignored. Lots of us did try to fight against it.

Claremont if only we all had your blind faith in the UK’s NHS…

Galaxy

I am so sorry Blossoming, the voices of those with disabilities are frequently ignored. Lots of us did try to fight against it.

Many disabled charities are totally against this bill, their voices and concerns have been ignored.

I think the bill now goes to the House of Lords. The vast majority of people around 80% have wanted this for decades and I am one of them.
It has been voted down many times in the past but gradually opinion has thankfully changed at last.
Like so many other countries we should be able to choose for ourselves without spending thousands to go to Switzerland with all that entails. I agree coercion is something to consider, but think it Woukd be rare and should be always kept uppermost in the minds of those responsible for agreeing to the request. As for medics being forced to carry this out, that will not be the case and anyone can opt out. Maybe this will encourage more hospices and end life care to increase so more patients can benefit but in reality this probably won’t happen.
I am happy and relieved that at last this stands a good chance of becoming law.

GrannyGravy13

Claremont if only we all had your blind faith in the UK’s NHS…

The Law will have to be apllied. Are you really telling me that they would fake a formal application, fake the opinion of two doctors, and fake the request- and force the patient to take the potion.

Nothing to do with blind faith.

GrannyGravy13

Galaxy

I am so sorry Blossoming, the voices of those with disabilities are frequently ignored. Lots of us did try to fight against it.

Many disabled charities are totally against this bill, their voices and concerns have been ignored.

Nothing to do with disability, but terminal illness.

I'm relieved, I was worried it wouldn't go through.

No I don't think that, I think your understanding of coercion is not the same as mine, we don't trust the safeguards and why would we? We have watched over the years safeguarding failure after safeguarding failure, we are in the middle of a nationwide safeguarding failure at the moment.

Galaxy I agree.

I suppose I just don’t understand why death has to be stretched out to days and days of unbearable agony.

What are the reasons for approving if that?

Would anyone explain their thinking\belief?

This is NOT about the disabled! Should those who know they’re dying and want as peaceful a death as possible be denied? So glad this went through.

Claremont

BTW, in the olden days, not so long ago, doctors could help humanely, on request, to shorten end stage. Since Shipman, that is totally .gone

Indeed - if only Shipman hadn't ever been on the scene and the fact he was did SO much damage all round.

Yep...another one here that is glad this bill has been passed. In my own case - the relief/gladness is for other people that require this. From my own personal pov - it makes absolutely no difference to me- as I know exactly how to "exit stage Earth" if I ever needed to and within the hour. That is a reassurance to me - should I ever need it - but I am glad other people will also have this choice too in case they ever needed it. It is inhumane the way that people have been kept in such pain etc for so long - when they are in that position.

So - my congratulations to the MP that brought this through.

Lathyrus3

I suppose I just don’t understand why death has to be stretched out to days and days of unbearable agony.

What are the reasons for approving if that?

Would anyone explain their thinking\belief?

Yes, I find this so bizarre too. Why. Why could you be prosecuted for letting a pet suffer at the end?

Personally, if I was so scared of the medical staff, so distrusting of their care and intentions- I certainly would not wish to remain in their wicked and uncaring hands for a day longer- believing they are not at all interested in making my demise more gentle and painfree! Not ask for more!

Context is what is important.

More MPs might have voted against if it had been in the context of good care for the terminally ill available free to everyone.

As it is terminal care is the poor relation in the NHS and there are no NHS facilities for proper care of the dying - none at all. There are hospices that receive a bit of financial help from the government, but essentially terminal care has been farmed out to the voluntary sector who live hand to mouth on fundraising.

It troubles me that one of the major factors in voting decisions is about poor care.

Luckygirl3 if The Lords pass this, there will be no incentive to improve palliative or end of life care.

State sponsored euthanasia, assisted suicide, murder by the state, whatever you choose to call it, will be cheaper for the NHS

Macadia

If someone doesn't want to live, they should be allowed to peacefully end their life. Nobody else's business.

Well suicide isn't illegal so they have that option, without using up time of legal professionals and doctors. Nobody else's business is exactly right.