I see this argument all the time and I object to such blanket assertions being made on my behalf and the behalves of everyone else who has witnessed a loved one die in such distressing circumstances. You do not speak for me. It is emotionally manipulative and not representative of how all of us in that situation feel by any means.
I witnessed both my parents die from long and painful illnesses. I wish they had both had access to good quality palliative care but I do not wish they had had the option to end their own lives, or rather, give the state permission to murder them. Countries like Canada, which brought in a similar assisted dying law some years ago, are good illustrations of the slippery slope argument, where what started as a way of shortening the suffering of those who were terminally ill became extended to those who were suffering in such a way as made their life 'not worth living'. This is a highly subjective definition and has been used to justify the 'euthanasia' of non-terminally ill disabled people. As someone who was born with a disability which I have heard other people say they could not live with, but has led a full, productive and joyful life anyway, I am very worried about the effect introducing assisted dying laws, no matter how well-intentioned, will eventually have on the lives of the sick and disabled.
It would be far easier, and cheaper, for the state to 'end the suffering' of disabled and sick people rather than, you know, provide the support which can and does make our lives better. It is, therefore, depressingly easy to envisage a future in which, if the law is changed, the 'right to die' will come to encompass those who are not terminally ill and where it could come to be seen as a compassionate, and conveniently cost-effective way, of 'helping' disabled people, both by government and, I am afraid, by the occasional family.
My dad was also physically disabled all his life, but he was staunchly opposed to assisted dying for the reasons I outlined above, his view did not waver even in his final days of suffering.
Rather than implementing this divisive bill, surely it would be better to vastly improve the standard of end-of-life care in this country so that people's final days could be lived with less suffering and more dignity and comfort. However, a bit like properly supporting disabled people, this would cost money so, sadly, I can't see it happening any time soon.