Assisted dying debate next week… To think this is a relief. So glad they’re finally debating this important issue.

[Mavenss]

We will be able to see which MPs are for or against assisted dying.

This Monday 29th April, assisted dying will be debated in Westminster for the first time in two years. An absolutely incredible 203,000 people added their name to the government petitionspearheaded by Dame Esther Rantzen to make this happen, creating the largest ever parliamentary petition on assisted dying.

There will not be a vote on Monday, but this debate will be the last time before the General Election that MPs have an opportunity to show you that they are listening to our calls for safe and compassionate choice at the end of life. A majority of voters in every constituency support an assisted dying law.

The debate starts at 4:30pmand you can watch it live online through the UK parliament website.

YABU- it’s a silly idea, why are government even debating it? Assisted dying is a terrible idea.

YANBU - I support the debate and assisted dying (under the agreed circumstances)

I’m interested in the MN feedback here.

I grew up in a western European country where this was legalised ages ago. We wouldn't let pets suffer as much as we let humans. I'm very much in favour (with safeguards in place of course, my home country requires sign off by 2 doctors).

I couldn’t care about anyone else, I want euthanasia to be legal for wherever I might want it! This is a matter of personal choice.

To those that are pro look up the website Dignity in Dying . They will send out info if wanted and you can also join them in the cause if you want .

My concern is how the ethical boundaries will be maintained

And also I don't quite understand it but apparently they wouldn't just use morphine or something to help people slip away, they would use other drugs and a death that is painless and fast is not guaranteed with those....I am not sure why this would be different to, for example, what Dignitas use.

www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n147/rr-0

I totally agree with it, having watched my poor DM dying a hideously slow and excruciating death I cannot think how anyone would object.

I'm so sorry you went through that.

Having been a nurse, your experience isn't uncommon sadly.

OP I absolutely support it and think the current situation is barbaric.

I'll ignore the hyperbole and just answer the first bit. I used to be 100% in favour. Now, knowing that services are parlous, poor people are pilloried, MH provision is non-existent, I am worried it's a short step to culling the herd. And yes, Canada.

That isn't to say I wouldn't like to have it in the case of painful, terminal diseases. But we can't have it instead of good end-of-life/palliative care. And treatment earlier.

If I hadn’t seen what I’d seen from my fellow human beings during covid I may feel differently, but I long is it going to take before it decends into ‘don’t you think you should eh, just die’ to save the nhs/ease the burden on family members having to care for you/ wait for an inheritance. So many people are good souls but too many really aren’t. I don’t know what the answer is.

A family member, after a long career in palliative care, having sat with many hundreds of dying people and grieving family members has convinced me this bill is a terrible idea. In her experience, good palliative care SHOULD always be possible and they should be investing in and prioritising that.
Assisted dying as has been seen abroad is risky and there have been cases where insurers will pay for assisted dying but not for treatment that a person wants which may be significantly more expensive (I think that case was in Oregon, but there were other examples). We can't allow ourselves to get to a point where assisted dying is the 'treatment' offered - our government is already a dystopian nightmare penalising the sick and disabled and ready to dismantle the NHS.
Doctors swear an oath to first do no harm. Politicians don't.

100 agree with every word you’ve Said. I felt and now feel exactly the same as you.

I would think that one of the safeguards would be that it is never offered, and has to be explicitly asked for.

My feelings exactly.

That's how it STARTED in Canada. Bit by bit, they've added more categories.

The NHS on its knees and care crisis makes this, sadly, a terrifying concept.

That isn't to say I wouldn't like to have it in the case of painful, terminal diseases. But we can't have it instead of good end-of-life/palliative care. And treatment earlier.

I think the majority of pro assisted dying people mean exactly this. In the case of painful and or terminal illnesses. Not instead of good care where more appropriate. The nub of the issue is where is the line and how is it managed, I guess. That’s the tricky bit for Parliament.

You’ve also got many people like this woman. She didn’t want the life she now had, due to her accident. I think she was reasonable, intelligent and able to make the decision and she did. Good for her, I’d hope we could do that here sometime, without fuss, if a person decides they want to.

https://news.sky.com/story/amp/professional-horse-rider-dies-aged-31-by-apparent-assisted-suicide-after-life-changing-injury-13101963

But then some people are not terminal, or in pain, but have conditions where their functions are gradually eroded. They want to die with dignity, and on their terms and in their own timescale. Some don't want to be dosed up to the eyeballs on painkillers and sedatives.
I don't think there is anything wrong with that at all. I think it is awful that such people end up travelling abroad and dying when well because they wont meet the criteria to go there when their condition progresses.

I fully agree.

The nub of the issue is where is the line and how is it managed, I guess. That’s the tricky bit for Parliament.

Their interests and ours are different. They want us to be cheap. Dying rather than extended care is cheap. Fewer old people is cheap. Fewer mentally unwell people is cheap. And they won't be the ones pushed into it or having crap care.

I don't trust them not to see this as a win for the bottom line.

Your username is ironic as Terry Pratchett himself was in favour of assisted dying.

I don't think it is about people being a burden, or it is cheaper to let people die with assistance. I think it should be a personal choice, and if someone has asked for help to die, then (with the correct procedures and safeguards in place), it should be allowed.

No matter what side of this debate you stand, you do no have the right to tell someone else that they must suffer pain/illness/disability because of your own morals.

If I hadn’t seen what I’d seen from my fellow human beings during covid I may feel differently, but how long is it going to take before it descends into ‘don’t you think you should eh, just die’ to save the nhs/ease the burden on family members having to care for you/ wait for an inheritance

This exactly

It's difficult because I support the idea in theory, but quite apart from individuals I just don't trust government not to see this as an ideal way to save money

You would need safeguards in place and even then people would potentially be coerced Imo

I don't feel the need to agree with my namesake on everything.

And I am in favour of assisted dying.

But I'm very very wary of giving the government an easy, cheap alternative to excellent care. And yes, people should be able to decide. But only if the alternative is not terrible care. Dying because no one treated you properly and that wasn't tolerable isn't OK. The Canadian healthcare system is on its knees and is contemplating MAID for mentally distressed people including youth who can't usually get access to good MH care. It's massively underfunded. Fuck that.

Fairly sure Terry would actually agree with me on that.

100% agree, OP.

Ok, my opinion is we should have better palliative care and support for disabled or terminally ill people, as well as mental health services. And prepare for death, have conversations about it. It will become a slippery slope where people will feel they are a burden or government will be thinking about the money they could save. Horrendous. Every life is valuable.