Wow! They've thrown it out!

I watched a lot of the debate today and it was interesting to listen to the excellent, emotional speeches from both sides of the debate.

I felt the main issue for a lot of MP's was not necessarily the act of 'assisting' the end of life but the possible problems of guaranteeing the act itself did not cause miscarriages such as somebody feeling they are a burden and opt for ending their life to please. If only there was a way of guaranteeing no miscarriages could occur then I think there could be a different vote. It's a start but the bill needs refining before going back to Parliament but I believe it will.

On a personal note I did think how I would have voted and I believe I would have voted for rather than against believing those who wish to end their life and suffering would take president over a supposed problem , albeit a realistic feasable one.

I think it is wrong. The people who have the money, ability and help can go to Dignitas and achieve their aim. The poor and the really ill can't. I remember the story of the woman who could have lived for longer but who had to go to Dignitas so ended her life earlier when she could still make the journey.

To do a journey by plane ( full of business and holiday people) to Switzerland, in order to the drive to a clinic, and die, is such a sad thing to have to do.I hope the time comes, and quickly, when we have our own Digntas type clinic.

Ipad!

I have been wondering just who 'owns' your body - you yourself or the state?

Good question RQ, and it must be ourselves.

These arrangements are being made anyway - but they are limited to those people who can afford to go to Switzerland. As someone else said the Switzerland route carries few regulations, and, more importantly, people have to make a premature decision because they can't risk being too unwell to travel.

On balance, I believe a person who is suffering from an imminently terminal illness and who can no longer cope with the pain/discomfort/indignity/helplessness that it is causing him/her should be able to obtain assistance to die in as peaceful a way as possible.

My aunts cared for my grandmother and, the family being very large, younger aunts cared for older aunts when they became frail. Even an older aunt cared for a younger aunt (and her family) when she was dying of terminal cancer. Cousins have cared for elderly parents and I cared for my mother for the last years of her life in my home. My sisters-in-law were pillars of support for my mother-in-law.

My mother never became a burden, but it was stressful and restrictive looking after her. I hoped that as she became a very old and very frail lady that I would walk into her bedroom with a cup of tea one morning and find that she had died peacefully in her sleep during the night.

Eventually her body betrayed her to the extent that she needed 24-hour care and I couldn't do that. The place - not a full-time care home, possibly a halfway house to which she was transferred when the hospital wanted the bed - was very kind and full of gentle carers. I visited her pretty much every might and many of my cousins went to see her too. Nevertheless, she literally turned her face to the wall, refused food and drink and, not long afterwards died. I am not sure whether that was a good or bad way to die.

I have no idea whether she would have chosen an active death over a passive death, but I recognised that she really had had enough.

This, of course, has nothing to do with a six-month prognosis. I suppose this was planned as a first step, with a view to expanding the possibility of a chosen, dignified death to others who feel that they really do not want to carry on living.

It is very important to think about this.

Just knowing that you can make the decision yourself is comforting.

The 6 month prognosis is difficult. I once obtained attendance allowance for someone under the special rules for people with less that 6 months to live and she was still around 5 years later!

Doctors are often unwilling to commit to a clear prognosis - and I can understand that.

My husband would probably have asked to go that way. His last three weeks he was bedridden and had carers coming to do everything physical for him. He had difficulty swallowing but did not want to be artificially fed. His last three days he refused food and drink.
He had a living will, which said that was what he wanted if there was no chance of improvement in his condition and if two doctors agreed that there would be no improvement. That's what happened. He would have had to die when he did because if he left it any longer, he would not have been able to drink anything by himself.

So many people end their days in a hospital - which is not, I am sure, where they want to be.

So much better to go peacefully in a place of your choosing.