Post by Cheshiregas on Oct 4, 2024 9:57:09 GMT
www.theguardian.com/society/2024/oct/03/mps-vote-first-time-assisted-dying-bill-uk-parliament
The legalisation of assisted dying in England and Wales appeared to take a decisive step forward after it was announced MPs will vote on a bill to give people a choice about end-of-life care.
The Labour MP Kim Leadbeater said her private member’s bill this month would give terminally ill, eligible adults a choice at the end of life to shorten dying and ensure stronger protection for them and their loved ones afterwards.
Keir Starmer has said he supports a change in the law, although MPs would get a free vote as it is a matter of conscience. Downing Street has said it would not obstruct the bill and the government would be expected to support the MP with drafting in the later stages.
Writing for the Guardian, Leadbeater said the law had not been updated for 60 years and it was now time to bring the UK into line with some other countries. “Somebody with a terminal condition and very little time left has only limited options,” the Spen Valley MP said.
She added: “I believe we should have the right to see out our days surrounded by those we love and care for, knowing that when we are gone they can remember us as we would like to be remembered. I also believe that if we were able to spare them any unnecessary trauma and uncertainty, we would want to do that too.”
I would be interested to see people's thoughts on this. When I volunteered with a suicide charity, their view was that it was a person's right to take their own life if they so desired but they allowed people to explore why they wanted to do so without judgement. And more often that not through discussion and exploring options, callers decided not to do so. However I was on a number of calls where individuals took their own life, and in listening to their stories you could understand why they did so.
As a Christian I was challenged in my interviews for my role with the charity as to whether I would accept the neutral position. My own view is that it is the individual's right to decide their own pathway. It is not right [as some feel] to foist my belief system onto others. I also cannot, for a minute, understand the absolute torment of someone with MND or some other horrendous illness. I have over time come to understand in a small way why someone who has been so badly abused, with often the perpetrator in a protected position, that they should seek to end their life. Although that is a different matter.
In the past, people were often 'helped on their way' but after the likes of Harold Shipman, safeguards must be in place to protect the weakest members of our society. I do have grave concerns over how it is handled, after family experiences working in the NHS with the 'Liverpool Pathway' which was supposed to be in place to help people at end of life but became over used without safeguards being respected. Vulnerable people also need to be protected from, shall we say, over zealous family. But if we can resolve these issues then I believe people should be entitled to make their own decision and that should be in the best possible place for them to do so.
MPs are most likely to be offered a free vote, but for the first time the Government will take a neutral position and allow MPs to vote with their own conscience. Thoughts?
The legalisation of assisted dying in England and Wales appeared to take a decisive step forward after it was announced MPs will vote on a bill to give people a choice about end-of-life care.
The Labour MP Kim Leadbeater said her private member’s bill this month would give terminally ill, eligible adults a choice at the end of life to shorten dying and ensure stronger protection for them and their loved ones afterwards.
Keir Starmer has said he supports a change in the law, although MPs would get a free vote as it is a matter of conscience. Downing Street has said it would not obstruct the bill and the government would be expected to support the MP with drafting in the later stages.
Writing for the Guardian, Leadbeater said the law had not been updated for 60 years and it was now time to bring the UK into line with some other countries. “Somebody with a terminal condition and very little time left has only limited options,” the Spen Valley MP said.
She added: “I believe we should have the right to see out our days surrounded by those we love and care for, knowing that when we are gone they can remember us as we would like to be remembered. I also believe that if we were able to spare them any unnecessary trauma and uncertainty, we would want to do that too.”
I would be interested to see people's thoughts on this. When I volunteered with a suicide charity, their view was that it was a person's right to take their own life if they so desired but they allowed people to explore why they wanted to do so without judgement. And more often that not through discussion and exploring options, callers decided not to do so. However I was on a number of calls where individuals took their own life, and in listening to their stories you could understand why they did so.
As a Christian I was challenged in my interviews for my role with the charity as to whether I would accept the neutral position. My own view is that it is the individual's right to decide their own pathway. It is not right [as some feel] to foist my belief system onto others. I also cannot, for a minute, understand the absolute torment of someone with MND or some other horrendous illness. I have over time come to understand in a small way why someone who has been so badly abused, with often the perpetrator in a protected position, that they should seek to end their life. Although that is a different matter.
In the past, people were often 'helped on their way' but after the likes of Harold Shipman, safeguards must be in place to protect the weakest members of our society. I do have grave concerns over how it is handled, after family experiences working in the NHS with the 'Liverpool Pathway' which was supposed to be in place to help people at end of life but became over used without safeguards being respected. Vulnerable people also need to be protected from, shall we say, over zealous family. But if we can resolve these issues then I believe people should be entitled to make their own decision and that should be in the best possible place for them to do so.
MPs are most likely to be offered a free vote, but for the first time the Government will take a neutral position and allow MPs to vote with their own conscience. Thoughts?
