Looks likely a vote on assisted dying is imminent

[fragrantdog]

‘A vote to introduce assisted dying across the UK could be imminent after Downing Street reiterated that it would not obstruct a private member’s bill on the issue and indicated it would support an MP in drafting it.’

There needs to be something
I sat watching my mum die like "this is ridiculous, you wouldn't let a dog go through this as it would be animal cruelty"
She was dying, that wasn't going to change but yet she had to go through the whole process of it?

I get there has to be protections in place but FFS she was actively dying and nothing could be done to actually push it along?
And dementia. I don't want to live with that, but yet we have to

Afterwards I signed up to compassion in dying and put an advanced directive in with my GP

Good - It’s about time peope got to decide what happens to them at the end of life. It’s not for everyone that’s fine, don’t chose it, but don’t think it’s your prerogative to take the choice away from others.

Let's hope common sense prevails and it doesn't get passed.

Let’s hope common sense prevails and it does get passed.

@spikeandbuffy its horrible having to watch a loved one die slowly. If it was an animal you wouldn't let it suffer so why do we let humans go through it?? Not necessarily suggesting euthanasia but there must be a better way. I watched my nan die from diabetes complications. Doctor's couldn't do anything because her heart was bad. Just had to wait for nature to take its course. It was horrible to see.

I’m hoping it passes, it’s something I worry about because of health issues, I’ve put my dog to sleep to put him out of his pain peacefully but I will be expected to just slowly potentially dragged out die. I saw it happen to my grandma and it was heartbreaking and anything but peaceful, just having to wait for death.

Lost my mum at the end of August. Her funeral is next week

Mercifully it was “quick”, only 4 days of actively dying. But I know that if she could have chosen to end it earlier then she would have. In her words, she wanted it to be over

I was pro assisted dying previously, and my feelings have only strengthened

This should not become law in my view, I realise that people have different views and opinions. Allowing other to assist with death is in my view morally wrong and I worry where this will go and what will happen as time passes, people feeling under pressure to go down this route (including relative.) Esther Rantzen is entitled to her view, she has campaigned on other issues in the past but that does not mean that she is right on this issue. I hope that enough MPs vote against the bill to ensure it does not become law.

And, as well as the bill being passed, there also needs to be a process in place where this can be done quickly. Not days or weeks going through court - if someone is on EoLC and has had enough then there must be a way of actioning this quickly within hours at most

It's lawful in plenty of other forward thinking European countries.
It's the right thing to do here at long last.

I agree.

After nursing both my Mum and Gran through terminal bowel cancer it absolutely terrifies me to think I might end up going the same way without some sort of option to end my own life before things became too awful.

This could go on all day. I'll move things along.

Do you agree with what's happened in Canada since they introduced assisted dying? (Which was completely foreseeable)

There do need to be safeguards. I know people who would martyrishly feel that it would be expected of them to opt for this in order to protect their children's inheritance while actually not wanting to. But with safeguards in place it's a good thing. A current tragedy is people committing suicide when they still have potentially years of reasonably good quality of life if they are reaching a point where they need help to do things and fear that if they don't end it now they will lose the capability. Sometimes the knowledge that you can legally request an end when your symptoms get too much to bear is all you need to find reserves of strength to bear them for longer.

I don't think many doctors will want to get involved with assisted dying.

No idea what’s going on in Canada. Regardless, there should be an option in certain situations here.

It might be an idea to read up on it in order to have a more informed opinion. It's an example of how it works in practice.

Went through the same with my Dad last year it was bloody horrible as you say you wouldn’t let a pet suffer like that!

Eh? That doesn't make a vote imminent at all. That's just saying they wouldn't block it if there were one. Not that there is one or that anyone has any intention of drafting a bill to be voted on.

Or is there more to the story than that headline?

This is how I feel.

I want some control, and some dignity at the end of my life.
If others choose not to take that option, then that's fine with me, but I don't see why they should remove any choice from me.

I’m a doctor. I’ve seen too many people struggle painfully on when they have no quality of life, no hope at getting better, just living day by day hoping to die.

If anyone asks, my vote is a firm yes. BUT if it gets passed, there will need to be strict regulations on who can access the scheme.

Good, it's time.

Next labour bashing thread please...

(I see you read the daily mail front page this morning too 😉)

To my mind this is like abortion. If you don’t agree with abortions then don’t have one. Same with assisted dying. If you don’t agree with it then don’t do it.