Assisted Dying

[Nordione1]

I dont know what section to put this in. Im more upset about the vote for it than I thought I'd be. I feel like we have crossed a rubicon somehow.

On a personal level, I am relieved. I have seen too many living their last two weeks in extreme suffering, and if I am ever in that situation, I think I would like the option to die 10 days or so sooner than would have done otherwise, with my loved ones around me. I also think of a family friend who discharged himself from hospital, checked into a hotel and killed himself, without warning his family and leaving hotel staff to find his body, after lying awake all night listening to the agonised cries of the man dying next to him and knowing that he would need in the same situation in a month or two.

I have relatives who have had very positive deaths with minimal suffering, surrounded by love. Most of those have been natural deaths, but one was an assisted death in Switzerland. I would bet glad to have the choice.

Agreed.

I'm very relieved this has passed. My grandmother who died aged 98 had a horrible death in agonising pain, screaming and begging my dad and uncle to kill her. They said no and it haunts us to this day. I never want to go through anything like that or watch another loved one die in agony ever again. We're all going to die someday- but we shouldn't have to suffer horrifically before hand if we choose not to.

All this is completely separate from the sorry state the NHS is in nowadays which is an absolute tragedy. The government needs to seriously focus on tackling that as its number one priority.

But, we are entities to choose, and to make our own decions. The state has no right to decide that I must be kept alive against my wishes.

I'm genuinely interested to know why people are so upset by it. To me it's a kindness to offer people the option. We ease the passing of our much loved pets when their death is inevitable, so why not people who are going to die anyway, but wish to hasten the process to save themselves some of the suffering?

I'm relieved it has passed.

It reflects public opinion.

We have to make sure it becomes law.

I admire Kim Leadbeater so much. She suffered a terrible tragedy but is working to relieve suffering and give people dignity in dying.

I wonder if the people saying 'We should just have better palliative care' will now put their energies towards campaigning for that? Then perhaps some people, being looked after better, won't be driven to seek euthanasia...

In fact, why weren't they until now?

"I'm worried whether I might be put under pressure to consider assisted dying, even though there's nothing in the bill to say that will happen, and I don't care whether that condemns you to the torture of maybe months of unbearable pain" What does that say about us as a country?

It says that the view of the vast majority of people has finally been respected. It says that the country won't be held hostage by fearful but vocal small minorities. No one is obliged to go down this route. But many many people have been forced to endure horrendous deaths that they did not want. I am thrilled if even some of them can now have the death they choose.

I'd be happier if the voting more nearly matched public opinion. Bit close for comfort.

Yes if you do it yourself in a way that means someone finds you, it’s usually a loved one and it’s not done peacefully with your family around you. If you have your family with you they could be investigated and charged. Your family can be investigated and prosecuted if you choose to go to dignatas and they come with you. So yes you can un alive yourself but when you are terminally ill and rely on others to give you food and water then I struggle to see how you can do this or at least in a more dignified way

I'm delighted that the discussion is opening up.

I have a parent who had early onset dementia, and is now 8 years into that. The decline was rapid, so we 'lost' mum about 5/6 years ago and she lives a life of zero dignity. Locked in a world where she knows nobody and nothing. In 6 years she's not watched TV, read a book, had a proper conversation. She can't feed herself, go to the toilet by herself. She exists, that's all. She would be horrified, absolutely horrified that her life had come to this and I can honestly say if she'd had the option to end her life sooner, she would have. She was a mental health professional for decades. I feel guilt every day that I can't do anything to make things better for her.

This Bill won't go as far as it needs to yet, but I hope that one day it will as I potentially face the same fate. I want to be able to put into place something that means I can get myself out before it's too late. That should be my right. I'll do it whether the UK allow it or not, it would just be a lot easier all round if they did.

I don't know how any one who has watched someone suffer can be against it. The alternative is inhumane and barbaric.

I'm delighted about it. Too late for my parents though.

Having recently watched DH die in agony, with no dignity, unable to do anything for himself, I welcome this. I would have given anything for him not to endure those last two weeks. It's seared into my brain & at the moment it's all I can remember about him, not the previous 30 years.

The state isn't chosing to keep you alive. It is enabling you to kill yourself for whatever reason might be motivating you (and it may not always simply be pain). I've just realised I find this something I really don't agree with but I see all the reasons it could in certain circumstances be a good thing too. It's just a personal view.

I am extremely pleased and cant quite believe our elected MPs have finally agreed that we can chose the way we die - they clearly have more common sense that I gave them credit for. I imagine a lot of people are breathing a huge sigh of relief that they may have choices in death that they had in life. Great decision.

I appreciate that not all may agree, but then they can chose to not take the assisted dying option. Its about choice and I firmly agree with that.

I'm really happy about it. My nan has dementia. She has no idea who we are. She has no what's going on. Shw look terrified. If I ever get a diagnosis I'm out if here. I dont want my kids to watch me slowly disappear in front of them.

I think it is a positive thing, however I can understand why people are afraid of the concept. Those who had a pet put down may have struggled with the guilt involved in making that decision and fear that it was the wrong decision. Now imagine it involves a person rather than a pet, it is quite daunting.

Why do you think that?

I'm very pleased it's passed. I don't think anyone should have the right to tell someone else what they can and can't do with their own body.

I do think we definitely need better palliative care though and it needs to be stringently monitored so people aren't forced into it by their families.

My grandmother died in severe pain from cancer. She was 86, she wasnt going to get better. If there had been a safe legal way to end her suffering, she would have taken it.

But it's the person who makes that decision, not someone else. That is different

i dont think this can apply to those with dementia

Absolutely this!!

If people don’t agree with it, they don’t have to choose it. It’s very similar to abortion in that sense.
I see it as the state giving more control, not taking it away.
Nobody is ever going to force you to choose assisted dying if you’re ever in that position. Thats your choice. Allow others to have theirs!

Of course it doesn't help all those poor late middle aged women who are tearing themselves to shreds looking after parents with dementia who can't make that choice. Nor does it help all those in their 70s or 80s who are petrified of developing dementia, perhaps have already cared for parents with dementia and seen it first hand, and would love nothing more than to be able to say now, in a legally binding way, that they do not want to continue living once they have lost everything that makes life worth living for them.I'm not asking for bill creep, just saying it's not the middle aged carers who are affected by dementia.

Kim has done a great interview on the rest is politics about this which I listened to the other day. The issue is that there seems to be a it’s this or great palliative care and it shouldn’t be you can only have one or the other. Yes some people receive great palliative care and others don’t, it shouldn’t be a lottery that you have lucked out and got a good hospice or care team. Palliative care in this country has been lacking funding etc many of the hospices are charities and with that they need great funding. To me it isn’t an either or it should be a service which is there which sits alongside excellent palliative care treatment and if you want that option that option is available