MPs to get vote on assisted dying

Hi All

I tool hope the bill is passed tomorrow. I totally respect others who would never make use of the option but like Eddie I have signed my DNR, made a will and bought my funeral with associated wishes. All boxed off mentally and certainly hope I don't need to avail of them any time soon. It is simply peace of mind.

My MP is voting in favour but I can see many who are not including Wes Streeting (Health Minister so not sure how he would manage implementation) 

This is the incurables forum (although some of you are more like the incorrigibles!!) and I'm sure like myself some of you have anxiety about the end days and it helps to discuss with others in this forum.  As mentioned before my palliative nurse has helped by explaining the care and support that is available at the last stage and if I knew there was an additional option to take if needed to reduce pain and suffering it would be further peace of mind.

I think a new thread would be a good idea because if it goes through, at some stage it may be an option for some of us and although a difficult and personal decision it would be good to hear other's views either for or against.

Anyhow I intend to (health permitting) get up and enjoy tomorrow with a nice walk along the prom with my dog, maybe treat us to a Friday cake from the bakery and be thankful to have another day.  

Best wishes one and all.

Xena xx

Good morning Xena, like you my end of life wishes/forms were done for peace of mind, its one less thing to worry about. My GP and nurse consultant at my hospice helped me with mine, and my palliative care team are fab and understand and support my decisions, Xena, I am in the "unfortunate" position of not being able to have pain relief other than paracetamol. 

I'm 100% for the right to die. and a new thread would be good, and the idea has been discussed before, indeed there has been a couple of threads that have been about end of life.

A walk along the sea front sounds nice, are you on holiday, or lucky to live by the sea, 

I hope the Spa suggestions help, we have been to a few over the years and those are our favourites, my fave is a massage, and have been having them for over 30 years.

Have a wonderful day.

Eddie xx 

Hi Eddie

There's no need to start a new thread! We already have this one.

My thinking is along these lines....

We make major decisions throughout our adult lives; where to live, whether to buy a house, choosing a partner or not, whether to have children or not.....For all these decisions, we do not have to seek 'permission' from anyone. We are trusted to make these decisions for ourselves. We don't have to prove our mental competence to do these things! Or go before a High Court Judge!

So why should we need 2 doctors and a judge to approve our 'final' decision?

In my own area, I doubt it will be possible to find not one but two doctors willing to carry out the proposed work. As to finding a judge...all in a short and urgent time frame.....and maybe expecting the person who is terminally ill to travel to see a judge....I can't see this working except for in large urban areas. 

We urgently need some sort of Assisted Dying Bill, but I'm not sure this one is the 'right' one. I know it will be debated and 'tweaked' if it gets through this stage, but I can foresee many difficulties with it as it stands.

And it isn't a case of either/or! palliative care provision needs to be funded properly, but it isn't an alternative to assisted dying.....just part of what should be a comprehensive end of life package for everyone!

I fully agree with your comments about conflicts too!

Kate

Hi Eddie/Candysmum

Well it looks like it has narrowly been voted through this first stage.  I agree with some of the points Candysmum has made but the law needs to be established before amendments made, I think the two doctors and judge will be required to ensure all the criteria is met to protect the patient and the medical team that issue the final drug. I wonder if this will eventually be in the palliative care area as another personal choice option. It was good to see so many speakers in the house acknowledging the good work the palliative team do and that these areas are currently underfunded.

 Respect to all who appose this bill - it will still be your right to choose.

As for me I am so fortunate we retired to a small town on the coast in Cumbria three years ago I can see Skiddaw mountain in the distance from the living room and could when fit walk to the beach and shops. These days we drive to the prom, parking free all year round, and walk as far as we can. Post treatment started at three benches and a sit down but on a good day can now get to the end which is a about a mile. However being Cumbria you can never put a time on it as we often meet folk and have a good yarn!

As for pain relief I can't have Morphine but I got fentanyl patches and they have been great must be difficult  just on paracetamol so I understand the Spa treats. I noticed you have been to a spa  in Cumbria so its a thought although I am not keen on leaving my dog for any length of time.

Wishing you both well have a good weekend.

Xena

Hi

I am very relieved the it has passed the first reading at the parliament. It is of great comfort to me and my family. Now I just to have last until the process is fully established! 

That's the 64 thousand dollar question....how long will the process take before it becomes law....if it gets through all the hurdles?

I've just said to my husband that I will definitely be wanting to move to England, if it looks likely that this will become law. Here in Scotland, I have no chance of a bill like this becoming law within my expected life time. 

It is only the first step, but I'm pleased with the outcome.

XXX Kate

Wow, I'm surprised!  I thought MPs would vote against like Scotland did, because it's such a difficult decision.  

Hi Puddock, I'm sure this thread will last a while, not sure the title will grab others, looking for a place to discuss EOL  when it's off the news 

I  agree with you, maybe making your wishes known before you are ill,  with the option of amending them, when you have a life shortening illness, could protect those who would never consider intervention.

The 2 doctors and a judge are not there for us, they are there for the most vulnerable among us. Puddock, in my many years in healthcare, I met many wonderful people, who could so easily be coerced to giving up their lives.

I agree with you again Puddock, finding 2 doctors and a judge for large areas of the country will be very difficult at best, but it's a first draft, now its been voted in, the legal and medical professions, will get their say, and I expect there will be changes.

End of life care isn't perfect by a long way, but it's so much better than 20 years ago, and why  Macmillan and hospice care isn't fully funded by Central government I don't know, though is government interference with hospice care, what anyone wants 

I'm agreeing again Puddock, care at EOL should be treated as a whole.

love Eddie xx 

Hi Xena, yippee, the start of something better "I hope", and have to agree with safeguarding everyone involved with ending a life, and with how wonderful the palliative care teams are.

Wow, Xena, you must really like the rain LOL, only joking, we love the lake district, and you have a fab local Spa. Well done with getting some fitness back, I know how tough that is, so congratulations that's awesome, and good to hear you love to natter with strangers, totally normal in my book 

Xena, I also cannot have anaesthetic, even a local one stops my heart, but I did ACT and CBT training and can cut out 90% of the pain, I too have a furry friend Poppy.

I hope you enjoy the warmer weather this weekend too. PS, this is  Poppy.

Eddie xx 

Puddock, you've just finished your house, made big inroads into your amazing garden and have the forest and sea on your doorstep, though I imagine the further away from D+GRI, the better.