Assisted Dying Bill falls

Galaxy in what way do you think this ‘wouldn’t have happened without AB’?

I’m very upset! I think it’s an utter travesty.

All people deserve the right to choose how and when to die, in a legal and controlled way and surrounded by family.

It’s all very well saying “get better palliative care” it’s literally a post code lottery.

My dear friend had “Hospice at Home”, when her DH was dying from pancreatic cancer (he was a doctor, so knew exactly what would happen).

He died, in agony, at home, with his distraught wife and emotional daughter, both of whom were nurses but not authorised to give him his morphine.

The team, who were amazing when on site, were totally overstretched and covering far too large a geographical area, and were late to administer the required level of pain relief.

When the hospital discharged my DM, she arrived home on a Wednesday night, with no end of life plan, no additional pain relief and no paperwork, it wasn’t until Thursday night we received her paperwork and realised she had sepsis and was dying.

My DD, who was 21 at the time and I stayed with her in her home, til Sunday night, without any medical support or help, when she died. Her saving grace was that after many many GP visits previously she’d finally been given Oramorph and we had enough to give her regular doses and keep her relatively pain free and I called the two nurses I mentioned earlier in this post (with the dying husband) , who constantly gave us phone support and some medical advice.

I wouldn’t treat my dog this way!

Grandma70s

I’m horrified and very surprised. Palliative care can only do so much, and nobody should be prevented from choosing to die.

👏👏👏👏👏

Galaxy

I am so relieved. I am not one to give him credit but I dont think it would have happened without Burnham. I have spent 30 years working with vulnerable people, Monica has just clearly articulated the risks this bill would pose to them.
When I voted Labour it was partly to support vulnerable people, it wasnt to support very privileged TV personalities.

That’s a very cruel thing to say.

Esther Ransome relentlessly campaigned for this, and many other things, because she firmly believed people should have choice. Choices she could make because she had the funds to do so, but she left it too late even for herself as she’s too frail now to make the journey.

Even if you have a DNA and a living will in place, this doesn’t help in many cases, my DM had both in place. She indicated several times that if she could get to Dignitas would we take her. We couldn’t, as we’d have risked some form of prosecution upon returning into the UK. Please don’t say it doesn’t happen, because it does and has happened. My mother was of sound mind right up until about three days before her death, where we can only assume sepsis had reached her brain.

It’s about choice and it’s also about safeguarding. We can, and should, mange both,

*manage

I did email.my local MP when it was last voted for. Mostly to discuss the lottery of palliative care, and the reduction in beds available. The closure of many hospices, and how they are more available in wealthier areas due to charitable donations.. She was unsure how she would vote.
I've seen friends and a family member suffer greatly. And my sister who had excellent palliative care. But she was very lucky to get a bed when she most needed it.
I do think it is kinder to allow people the choice to choose. I also understand vulnerable people could be at risk of greater coercion.
But today,as explained on C4 news by an MP she said the cost, bureaucracy and time needed for each case would be considerable. So I think it will be a long way off until the bill is passed.
In the meantime the government desperately needs to address the severe funding shortages for palliative care.
For me personally I would like the choice to choose, when and if needed. I think my family would support my choice.

If it were strictly for people with only 6 months of life left I would think it worth the risk of a few people feeling coerced into choosing dying. Denying people in pain the right to choose is wrong.
When and if high quality hospice care is available everywhere fewer people might make the choice

It isnt cruel cossy. Again I joined the labour partly to support the vulnerable. The reason I left was partly because it became a party of the middle class who seemed unable to understand that policies which might work for the middle class dont work for the most vulnerable.
*Lizziedrip*, I think the concerns he expressed on palliative care were influential, I think it would have passed again if Starmer had still been there.
I know you aren't keen on him so I am probably not helping to endear him to you! I dont think he is the messiah either but on this I agree with him.

The next version will most likely be 'tighter".

Yes winter white it is for those with only 6 months to live. But that's also debatable as many doctors, I hear, would feel very uneasy about giving that prognosis. And I think 2 or more doctors would have to agree.
Personally from friends that I know, we are all more terrified of getting Dementia/Alzheimer's. Also a recent poll suggested this fear was greater than having a stroke.
There is inadequate help or support and I know this with 2 DF. I'd like to already have in my GP notes that no way would I want to live with it. No chance of that though. And once you get it...too late as you wouldn't be considered of having a sound mind.

I am annoyed that other people have made this decision on my behalf.

I fully understand the objections from those who have them, and would absolutely never want to see compulsion in any shape or form, but that is because I respect the right of others to make their own choices.

My MP is a religious man (RC, I think). He has made it clear all along that he does not support the bill, and will vote and speak against it. I respect his views, but would prefer it if he respected mine, which include giving the right to those in pain or distress to end their lives with loved ones around them at a time of their choosing.

I think there should be checks and balances, so a GP or psychiatrist should sign off the paperwork based on clear and objective guidelines, but ultimately I don't think that MPs should be able to speak for their constituents. There was nothing in the manifesto of any party (AFAIK) about this, so even if we'd wanted to we didn't vote anyone in knowing how they would use that vote.

LizzieDrip

I agree FGT - it is shameful that hospice, end of life care relies on charity.

Will AB put his money where his mouth is and fund hospice care?

Can’t help but feel his view on assisted dying is like Corbyn’s view on Brexit. At least Starmer was clear on where he stood. So imo he does need to put money into end of life care. It’s totally wrong for hospices having to rely on charity when people can’t afford to give to charities anyway.