To be very anxious about the assisted dying bill?

Streeting is objecting to it on the basis of cost to the NHS, amongst other things, so there’s no financial incentive. Essentially this is separating those who fear death from those who understand it’s not the worst thing that can befall you.

Let's also not forget instead of fully funding hospice care in this country as they should...they would prefer to bring in assisted dying. Money, money, money.

Yanbu

My concern is that the current rules and parameters will over time be widened and loosened.

So six months left to live will be extended to a year...
Then instead of terminal illness, it will be widened to include unbearable suffering
Then it will be widened to those without mental capacity
Etc etc

I'm surprised how many people are fine with this and how many people assume that the governments around the world who have brought this is genuinely care about their citizens suffering. It's quite clearly a form of population control and money saving exercise. It's hugely open to coercion and abuse and by it's very nature, safeguards won't always be enough.

Oh and I'd also like to know whether doctors will be able to suggest this or will it have to be requested? I also wonder whether the public will be told which doctors are happy to help assist in this task because I'd like to refuse treatment from any doctor who is prepared to do it.

I know. I hope that assisted dying would be extended to cover dementia at some point, though. My dad suffered from it and spent the last 10 months of his life humiliated and degraded by his illness, not recognising any of us, needing 24/7 care and when lucid, would cry and beg to be given enough drugs to end his life. Hospital staff used to tell him not to be silly.

I have set aside enough money to go to Dignitas when the time comes.

I’m totally in favour of the bill having watched the terror of someone dying from MND. I can think of nothing more horrific than your body closing down while your mind is fully aware. With a terminal diagnosis we should all have the option to choose when we are ready to die with dignity - and the choice to fight on if that is what the person wishes to do.
Nobody should have the right to impose their personal belief of what is “right” on another person, they should only get to choose for themselves.

I hope it goes through and I also hope that it is expanded eventually to advanced directives so people who develop dementia and other very long terminal diseases can say that not only do they not have to run the entire course of their illness they can choose the point when they die. For many people this is when they can no longer recognise their family, become incontinent or are violent to their carers. I would like to be able to say now, when I have mental capacity, that having watched both parents loose their freedom to dementia that I absolutely oppose being kept alive indefinitely in mental anguish and physical pain. I don’t think many people would choose this death if they witnessed it for themselves, they would want to be able to say goodbye to their loved ones peacefully.

I’m 100% behind it. Bring it as soon as they can.

There are already people who choose assisted dying, but they are the ones who can afford to go to clinics abroad. There are plenty of people who help their incapacitated partners and family members to die even with the risk of criminal prosecution. There is clearly a desire for assisted dying to be legal.
Yes, palliative care should be much, much better, but some people wouldn't want it even if it was.

You'll be totally able to die in agony if you want. You shouldn't be able to take away my right not to.

OP I don't see how anorexia can be included. Although you can die from it, it's not a terminal illness. It sounds like you need help with your anxiety.

I won’t flame you. That’s exactly what I hope would happen to me. In fact I have an advance directive stating that no illness is to be treated if I get a dementia diagnosis.

If it ever eventually becomes legal some 4 years down the line, there will be numerous hoops to jump through before someone can end their life that way,

I do have H&W PoA in place with specific instructions. I also have a letter on file with my medical records stating that I do not wish to be resuscitated or have any interventions to keep me alive artificially shoukd I find myself in such a position. But that doesn't cover things like when I lose capacity and my family make my decisions for me (they are aware of my preferences) or do-gooder medical professionals thinking they know best.

I it’s a personal choice and whilst you may be worried about it there are safeguards including the team of elope who will agree you can do it. There is also criteria who have to meet. I know someone who nursed her mother toward the end of cancer, the mother literally screamed in pain whenever she moved, despite being on the strongest pain killers allowed

i also firmly believe that it already happens with those terminally ill and 9n the highest level of pain killers whose time is near any way

we treat animals better than we treat other humans at the end of their life

Dementia would not be covered under the current proposed criteria as you need to be terminally ill with a maximum of a 6 month prognosis and the mental capacity to consent.

@BIossomtoes
A close relative was diagnosed with dementia at 70 and I’ll get flamed for saying this but luckily they died not long after of an related condition

You've obviously not witnessed someone you love dying from motor neurone disease OP.
I fully support the bill.

I’m very anxious that it won’t become law because of unelected Lords…

Its not going to be compulsory OP, just an option for those of us who don’t want an extended period of undignified, painful, excruciating suffering at the end of our lives.
I’m fortunate that we have the financial means to go to Switzerland or similar if the situation arose, but I’m very pleased that it, hopefully, will be available here in a few years.

I'm far more anxious of dying in pain and a drawn out horrible death.

It’s not the same, but if you have a Health and Welfare Power of Attorney, you can add a paragraph to say in which circumstances you do not want any life-saving or life-prolonging treatment.

It was a priority for me, in an era when keeping people going no matter how poor their quality of life, seems so often to be the default. Though having said that, I know it’s often the relatives who ‘can’t bear to let Mum go’ - when the medics may well think that letting Nature take its course would be kinder.

I’d like to see it with elderly people with dementia too.

it’s a horrible existence.

You are absolutely right to be anxious. And yes, I’ve been with someone at the end several times and have a life-limiting condition myself. I don’t trust their so-called safeguards.

Me too. Unfortunately this bill would be of no help to us if that happened to us. I’m entirely in favour of it, we should all have autonomy to choose the manner of our own death.

I think I am generally supportive of the bill for physical illnesses. But it did give me pause when I read about Shanti De Corte and I need to explore my feelings about it a little more. So I think I can understand where your anxieties are coming from OP.

I’m anxious about becoming so ravaged by dementia that I am physically & mentally abusive to my loved ones and have my shit & piss dealt with by strangers because I’m in nappies

A long, drawn-out, painful death? No thank you. I’d much prefer a peaceful end at the time I choose, surrounded by loved ones.

The assisted dying bill has plenty of safeguards on place. You won’t just be able to bump off Uncle Brian at will because you want to get your hands on his millions.

We treat our pets better than we treat humans, and that needs to change.