To say that if the assisted dying bill isn't passed....

[OnceUponATimeInTheWest]

that, regardless of where you personally stand on the issue, it will finally be undeniable that we do not live in a truly representative democracy at all?

Given the latest poll in the Times, it is clear that the vast majority of the population support the bill (65% for and 13% against) and yet most of the media seems to be full of story after story about this person or that coming out against it (unsurprisingly, often people with a religious background). I don't remember seeing nearly as many stories about someone telling us they support the bill. The narrative feels as though it is being steered in only one direction.

I mean, it's already fairly much clear that our elected politicians prefer to tell us what to do and what we should think, rather than actually representing our wishes. Otherwise immigration and transgender issues would not still be dominating the headlines. The fact that an amendment to remove bishops from the house of lords failed recently should also tell us that religion still plays far too much of a role in what is an overwhelmingly secular society.

If this bill fails, then anyone in future trying to tell us that we live in one of the greatest democracies in the world is, at this point, just gaslighting us.

That’s your concern fair enough - but other people just want other options

And that's the point isn't it? See the advert: "My dying wish is that my family won't see me suffer
and I won't have to."

www.theguardian.com/society/2024/nov/26/mass-advertising-campaigns-on-assisted-dying-spark-anger-among-mps

Look how they lead on your obligation to other people. Planting the seed. Obviously the more compassionate/virtuous terminally ill patient chooses assisted suicide. The rest are just vampires sucking the life and optimism out of our nearest and dearest.

This is dystopia.

And you implied that those who don't want to go down the assisted dying route are somehow wrong...that doesn't sound like just an option to me.

45,000 people in Canada chose assisted death in 2022. Not all with 6 months left.... we have entered the slippery slope....

Why isn't it your concern?

Again that’s an opinion. I’d hate to suffer and would love the choice not to.

I want a choice in how I die and don’t want to suffer a prolonged death and from what I hear about the way some people go, it terrifies me. Some people are so desperate they travel to a different country and now they won’t have to

You said this though

If you want to suffer a painful long prolonged death crack on

That's passing judgement on someone else's choice.

If assisted dying is brought in, would you think this is an acceptable thing to say to someone with a terminal illness or would you think it's a coercive thing to say?

Why aren't you concerned about people being killed against their will?

I already understand what you want, this is a different question.

Being killed against your will is murder.
Assisted dying is very different to that.

Would you say to someone that is crying in pain and saying they want it to end now - ‘no no, you don’t get to decide, you’re not allowed any help to die. You’ll have to wait…’

Are you concerned about people being coerced into this? Being murdered, if you want to put it like that.

Why are you so sure that will be the case?

I haven't said that though have I. I don't have to justify or explain something I haven't said.

You said and I quote....

If you want to suffer a painful long prolonged death crack on

Do you think this is coercive ?

Absolutely chilling.

It feels like watching a car crash happening in slow motion. The emotive language is disturbing and already framing those who might choose to live as 'wrong'.

If you think assisted suicide is only ever a painless slipping away into nothing then you are a fool. There have been many cases where it has gone wrong, ending in horrific pain and suffering. Only using those words to describe a natural death, and painting assisted suicide as some magically painless option is already coercive in a way.

We should be focusing on massively improving palliative care. This is going to ensure that never happens.

What hubris, to think that with our already crumbling healthcare system, despite all the flaws being shown in countries that have already done this, we think ours will be the one that actually doesn't spiral into eugenics.

They aren’t being murder though. They’re being assistant to end their own life because that’s what they want.

You don’t need to say it - by arguing they shouldn’t have a choice speaks volumes

To protect the vulnerable from people who imply there is a "right"choice ...

You haven't argued for choice...you've argued one way is the correct way.

You're not answering the question, which is an answer in itself.

I’m arguing for the voice of those that want to see this bill approved.

why should people who want to end their own life suffer more than they want to because you don’t agree with it?

It’s doubles standards because you want people to have a choice and not be coerced as you keep saying, but the irony is you don’t want other to have the right to chose what they desperately want.

Some deaths are horrible. There have been so many people left traumatised watching their loved ones suffer. That’s the reality. They aren’t nice - if someone says I’d prefer to go naturally but why pretend you just close your eyes and pass away peacefully in your sleep. It’s brutal for some people so why is that truth a problem?

It’s ironic that those opposed to it and worried about coercion- which I do understand- but I don’t think that’s a valid justification to say no no no we can’t have an option

But you implied people who don't want it are somehow making the wrong choice?

Would you like to see doctors say in your own words If you want to suffer a painful long prolonged death crack on to terminally ill patients?

I agree that people should have a choice about how they die. I don't agree that people should be coerced to die.

If you can demonstrate how, without doubt, people won't be coerced, I'll back the bill.

You’re getting ridiculous now. Clearly you’ve lost your argument.

I mean it's your words...you said it.