Assisted dying bill

As long as I can squeeze a little bit of enjoyment, I'd stick around.

Last couple of weeks, though, I'd have jumped into a suicide pod in the blink of an eye.

Mu life is hugely reduced from what it was, but I'm adaptable,as are most,when it comes down to it.

MissA

Thank you.
I'm feeling better this week, thankfully.

There is a real risk that MPs will kick this Bill out on the grounds that palliative care is not adequate so people would opt for assisted dying. What they are effectively saying is they prefer some people endure very painful, lingering deaths rather than immediately funding and organising palliative care so there is an equitable choice. Disgraceful in my opinion. If this Bill is killed there is no hope it could return for years and so many people would be denied a pain free death.

I saw my doctor once to ask him how heart failure works as my dad had a heart attack and was in hospital with heart failure. My GP then (years ago) told me it was a very distressing condition. He said he normally lays them down and injects morphine!!
I've since learned that this would hasten death.
But my dad recovered from the heart attack and lived another 7 years. So I'm glad he wasn't my dad's doctor.
This is what has always worried me about assisted dying but in definitely terminal disease I do agree with it.
My sister had heart attack and pneumonia last year. The family was called in at 3am to say goodbye. Next day she was off the ventilation and sat up in bed drinking a mug of tea. You just can't tell if it's definitely terminal with some conditions.

The choice is skewed, though, surely?
It can only be a fair choice when a comfortable but slower, "natural" death is on offer, compared to a pain free fast dispatch as and when needed.

Kalm

Having witnessed the death of both parents this is not an easy subject.
For many Muslims, and similarly for Jews, the belief in a predetermined time of death is a profound aspect of faith. The story of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the Angel of Death (Malaik ul mawt) underscores the significance of divine will and the eternal afterlife in Islam. the angel MuM asked the prophet's permission to extract his soul, the prophet asked whether this option will be available to his ascendants, the reply was n the negative.
This belief system provides comfort and a framework for understanding life's trials and the suffering of loved ones, those who suffer pain are martyrs.
I don't trust the state to decide when people should die. Historical events like the thalidomide tragedy and the contaminated blood scandal have removed trust in governmental oversight....Or those in palliative care where hospices are under-funded. Generally speaking not everyone is rational as politicians believe, dysfunctional families are likely to put pressure on the elderly to go down the AD route. There are many cases where people have survived. Anecdotally we had a relative who was told in 1936 he didn't have long in Kashmir, he died .....in 1992 in Birmingham !
The challenges in palliative care, especially for Muslims, highlight significant gaps in the current healthcare system. Concerns about cleanliness, dignity, halal food, and prayer time are crucial for providing culturally competent care. The lack of understanding and bureaucratic hurdles exacerbate these difficulties
Just because the narrative of this discussion is somehow portrayed as compassionate liberal because Ester Rantzen supports it does not mean it is right.

Those of us who do not subscribe to a religion of any kind should not be controlled by the beliefs of those who do.

No one will be forced to do this, despite those who are planting this fear. Like abortion, should be a matter of personal choice and autonomy

I've got a long term medical problem which could lead to a long deterioration of mind and body. This bill will not help me but I hope it goes through to help others who are suffering. My only hope is getting to Dignitas.

Magr

No one will be forced to do this, despite those who are planting this fear. Like abortion, should be a matter of personal choice and autonomy

People were placed on The Liverpool Pathway without being aware, and DNR has been put onto people's medical notes without having been discussed, so I wouldn't be too sure.

My darling Dad was in a hospice for the last weeks of his life and they were incapable of controlling his pain, he was begging my Mum and I to end it for him, he said he would have done it for us if the circumstances were switched. I have been haunted by it for the last 20 years as I let him down by not helping him.
We are humans with the ability to make our own life or death choices, don’t rob us of that.

If I’m correct this bill only applies to Wales and England I’m from Scotland and pray that Scotland passes a bill to help a soul go without pain and their dignity in tack.

Self delivery is possible but it is still illegal to help someone to commit suicide.

When is becomes legal for a doctor to assist you to die the doctor will be able to give you enough pain killer to stop your agony even if the high dosage kill you. BUT only if you give permission for the lethal dose.

I have campaigned for this Bill for seven years and will be outside the HofP on 29th with my placard. I agree on safeguards but this Bill does not go far enough. It's about an individuals right to choose. If you want to continue living it's your choice. In an ideal world there would be brilliant palliative care but currently there isn't. I will hasten my death as soon as I feel my quality of life has gone. It is my right to choose

Elz57

If I’m correct this bill only applies to Wales and England I’m from Scotland and pray that Scotland passes a bill to help a soul go without pain and their dignity in tack.

The Scottish Bill is now more or less permanently shelved as Neil Grey, SNP health minister, has questioned whether it's within devolved jurisdiction. (Same unscrupulous guy who claims expenses for getting chauffeured football matches). If it's passed in rUK then Holyrood may be able to follow suit/revive their bill.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g5w299npjo.amp

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That would include a fair few who are working to preserve life too, I'm afraid.

GrannyGravy13

I can only speak from a point of personal experience, our relatives have had excellent palliative/end of life care, nobody asked to die , in fact the opposite they clung to every minute, second of their lives despite being extremely ill.

I have doubts regarding this Bill, it has been rushed through by the PM on what seems like a promise to a celebrity (Esther Rantzen).

I have been reading about the situation in Canada, it raises more questions than answers.

My mother had a terrible death despite palliative care as the morphine required to stop the pain would have killed her and was therefore illegal. The reality of bone cancer in the spine. I saw another couple of friends die peacefully and not in pain. Respectfully if you have not seen the limits of palliative care you should refrain from opining. I welcome this very focussed bill, and I hope our Isle of Man bill passes too. I also hope I don't need to use the option, but knowing I could stop the pain would make death better.

Cabowich

I hope that it gets through too - it's something I believe in very strongly.

Whether people want to go through the agony of dying of something like cancer should be down to personal choice. Having a low pain threshold, I certainly don't want to suffer like that and I would very much resent being told I had to because of misguided do-gooders.

There's a good headline on the BBC news website ATM. It's about shortening the death process, not ending life (as the people it concerns are dying anyway).

Cabowich I agree with you 100%.

It isn't a perfect system but we don't live in a perfect world, despite people thinking that you can somehow make death a kind of 'perfect' experience by handing them a pill.

keepingquiet

Is that how you interpret the wishes of those who've campaigned for this bill - some of whom are suffering from terminal diagnoses of diseases which they are fully aware can end in intractable pain (it's a fallacy to believe that all pain can be controlled) or, in some instances, with complete loss of muscle-control which renders them unable to swallow their own saliva and likely to choke on it? Can you not imagine the anxiety these thoughts can cause?

I'm on the fence on this matter, but I really don't think people who support this bill are looking for the 'perfect' death experience by popping a pill.

In fact, I think your final paragraph verges on being rather insensitive.

As far as I know, an incidental shortening of life due to painkillers isn't illegal.
I may be wrong though, because I usually am lately.

Rosie51

While I understand the feelings behind those who fully support this bill, does it not concern you, even a teeny tiny bit, that some people may be pressured, coerced, or just feel they are such a burden, into taking this route?
From what I understand the patient is going to have to be able to administer the lethal dose to themself, so not respite from suffering for those physically unable to do so.
Canada is indeed a very worrying example. The numbers applying, or being offered MAID, is increasing at an alarming rate.

Our law is based on the Oregon law, which is in the US and has been running since 1997 with no scope creep. We are not following the Canadian model.

Less than 6 months to live, 2 independent doctors and a high court judge? We all know how slow the wheels of justice turn, the whole bill is pointless as more than likely the candidates will have died before it gets to the yes/no verdict.

I hadn't even thought of that.

MissAdventure

The concoction needed is 3/4 of a pint of very caustic fluids, which need to be taken quickly, I saw yesterday.

It's important that people also know the facts regarding this, so that they don't imagine floating gently away.

That is is simply untrue. We have access to barbiturates that would be used. The US and by extension Canada is withheld these drugs as they can be used for executions as they have capital punishment. This is a lie put about by the people who do not want us to have choice for heir own religious reasons.