Assisted Dying Bill tomorrow.

[TooBigForMyBoots]

I really hope this goes ahead.

I'm from a family who die from cancer. It's a genetic thing. Over the years I've watched numerous loved ones die from this cruel and ravaging disease. It has taken a massive toll on us. From PTSD to immense guilt, complicated grief and fear of the future.

Not all of my family would have accessed Assisted Dying, but I know some did want it and requested it in the weeks / days leading to their death. They should have had the option of shortening their suffering. Having witnessed what they went through, I want that option for myself.

I want it for my mother. For the past 20 years she has told me when she wants out and how I will have to help her achieve it. I don't want to. She apologises for putting it on me. She shouldn't have to.

No one will be saved if this Bill is stopped, but fear and suffering will be reduced.

So did you hear the debate then?Because you also heard this is going to take a further two years of experts and everybody to start doing proper amendments, and it could even take longer than that, to then go back to parliament, to hash it out again, hi galaxy

Assisted dying risk, as you put it, is about being terminally ill. There is nothing in this bill to kill off the older or disabled- unless they are terminally ill and choose it. The whataboutery really needs to stop.

People can already coerce vulnerable people for that purpose.

I can't see that so many months.Makes a difference.I don't think that would be a massive problem

Yes, I'm aware of that.

Frankly, there are few bodies I would trust less to oversee such important legislation than the current bunch of MPs - on all sides.

I suspect it will be much easier to abuse a power of attorney than assisted dying.

Exactly. This coercive argument is ridiculous. It hasn't happened in other countries, are we really more evil than the rest of the world?

No country has reversed the legislation, which they would have done if the public wanted it.

1 The actual death may be pain free but the weeks leading up to it not so much.
2 It would be more dignified to die before you get to the stage where you lose control of your bowels and bladder several times a day/night and have to wear adult nappies for 3 weeks because you can't physically get out of bed.

My dad spent the last 3 weeks sobbing partly because of the pain but mostly because he was ashamed. He begged to be allowed to die and to be honest, I don't blame him , nobody should go through that if they choose not to.

Coercion of elderly people by relatives is already common. Especially to preserve inheritance.

Perhaps now that is the intention, but you’re naive if you think this won’t be expanded. It’s been expanded in every other country who has assisted dying.

And the public already want it to be expanded.

every time the topic comes up on MN people quote various illnesses they don’t want to die from and would like to be assisted when the time comes. Illnesses such as dementia which are not and, if the bill goes through as proposed, never will be.

The public absolutely aren’t going to tolerate a fixed law which covers only terminal illness with six months to live. They’re not. The public already don’t want that. So it’s inevitable that the law will need to change, every time there is something the public want covering.

People with dementia/mental health conditions/disabilities/too many people on the transplant list are all potential candidates for assisted dying. Don’t kid yourself that they’re not.

So this won't make any difference.

It is suicide. But assisted suicide. There have always been people who have undertaken suicide as a result of terminal illnesses.

Exactly.

If tomorrow I decided I want to commit suicide I can go and do that.

However, if I'm unable physically to manage that, then why should I not be allowed to have someone assist me with the task?

Why would anyone want to take away my right to exit this World if I want to?

People with dementia/mental health conditions/disabilities/too many people on the transplant list are all potential candidates for assisted dying. Don’t kid yourself that they’re not.

And a lot of those people have families who love them dearly. MIL has Alzheimer’s and it would not end well for anyone who even thought about coming for her.

Nothing is easy though is it?

Which is better, millions of people being allowed to drive or one person not being killed on the roads?

Should we stop anything which is risky?

Should we ban drinking because of drink driving?

Why do you only care about AD?

What about all the other risky bills that have passed?

What about the long term mental health damage done bc of abortion? Should we stop that too?

I can't commit suicide due to my faith so I expect I'll end up as a despised person taking up space in an NHS bed without any palliative care and without a hospice space as they'll all have closed down due to lack of funding and donations.

Yipee, pain and suffering 🙄 perhaps it'll bring me closer to Christ 🤔

And fuck those who do not have family that love them dearly?

I too think the debate was appalling, we don't decide laws on individual stories. For every story there will be another potential premature death that was avoided but that will not be as emotive. Sadly, already there is talk of widening the scope of the bill, I only hope MPs resist this.

Or maybe you'll get better care because those of us that don't have that faith, have decided they don't want to take up that space in an NHS bed when they've had enough, so that they and others don't have to suffer.

So one of your arguments for this is that there will be more capacity in the NHS?

It won't work like that in reality.

Not just the NHS.

I'm not the only person on the planet, I'm not that important in the grand scheme of things, my life is finite, and so are resources.

So yes my death will be more meaningful if I sacrifice it for others rather than insisting on people medically intervening to keep me unnecessarily alive.

I have no need to cling on to dear life for my own selfish reasons.

If I was actually religious, I think that would make me closer to Christ.

Regardless, my beliefs my choice. Who are you to tell me otherwise?

That's up to other humans, I can only do what I believe to be right.

Selfish alarmist hyperbole.
Many - perhaps most - won't choose assisted suicide so of course there will be continuing services. And re donations - why would they significantly diminish? Do religions such as whatever you follow not support hospices?

Why do you think you'll be despised if the law is passed? Who will be depising you?

Hospice care is so much more than the moments of death. We will be eternally grateful for the services of our hospice. They provided respite, comfort, advice, peace and joyful, funny moments when we needed it. My loved ones still chose to die at home.

This Bill does not mean an end to palliative or hospice care. To suggest it is fear mongering.

I think a lot of people won't use it but will take great comfort from knowing that it could be available if things become truly awful.