It is a contentious debate — but Britain should follow others in legalising assisted dying
Issues such as this attract support and opposition from across the divide. These discussions are important in any democratic society — but I know where I stand on assisted dying.
The illness that has beset Dame Esther Rantzen — the 83-year-old former television presenter, who has stage four lung cancer — is what a close relative of mine went through. At the time of her diagnosis, she was 70. When she passed away eight months later — exactly four years ago this week, as Britain descended into lockdown — her pain was no longer; her suffering halted for good.
My relative suffered deeply in her battle against cancer; as I wrote in this column last week following the Princess of Wales’s cancer diagnosis announcement, the knowledge of having the disease is a life-changer — especially for the Princess, along with His Majesty the King, the public prominence attached is something millions of cancer patients do not have to contend with. But like the millions worldwide, the impact on family is life-changing.
But the manner in which my relative lived her final days, weeks and months did not teach me a lesson or open my eyes to something as such. Rather, it made me think and ponder a lot (or the past few years following her passing have, to be precise). It made me consider the dignity of our elderly population in the final moments of their lives — how so many would prefer to die at their choosing and when and where they wish. I am unsure of my deceased relative’s views on assisted dying — I will never know, of course, to state the bloody obvious — but it really is beside the point, for this is about dignity for our ill, our sick, and those suffering in our country.
The debate inspired by Rantzen, whose pleas to legalise assisted dying have touched many, has reignited the issue within the public domain. It has drawn discussion on all sides with varying viewpoints. These questions are not political in the sense of party political matters; but they are, in fact, questions of human life, and the quality and value of it.
There were and are many, many more worse cases than my relative. Even though her final months were filled with grave discomfort through the course of her cancer treatment, the scale of the suffering of other cancer patients (but also those experiencing other life-changing illnesses which impact their quality and value of life) leads me to believe we must move forward and change the law.
As I recounted a moment ago, this debate is broad; it draws voices on all sides. But having seen the testimony put forward by Rantzen, who last year signed up to Dignitas, the well-known assisted dying organisation in Switzerland, as well as the appeals from others, I support such a change in the law to permit assisted dying. At present, the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill is being considered by the Scottish Parliament — if passed, it would herald a significant new development in the assisted dying debate in this country. Moreover, if elected at the general election this year, Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, has promised a free vote in Parliament on assisted dying; but indicates he personally supports such a change.
I wholly understand the concerns and opposition to legalising assisting dying — this is not a simple issue; it draws support and opposition from all corners and from many people. Some have argued that refinements must be made first and foremost with regard to care and treatment so that some people do not feel it necessary to end their lives through assisted dying. This is a fair point in relation to improving care and treatment for our elderly population. But my principle argument, and that of others, is not that people should choose a form of assisted dying as a way to end their life, because that may not be correct in particular circumstances; but that people should and could at least have the choice to do so when faced with, as so many are, debilitating, painful illnesses.
This is a personal issue; it is not a one-size-fits-all model where everyone can be placed into one or two categories and it will be suitable for all, whatever the differing circumstances. It all depends on the state of the individual at hand, their illness, and the impact on them as a person — the case of assisted dying is something that each person and their family must decide for themselves.
But after hearing the arguments from people like Rantzen, along with others whose voices are coming to the surface following the raised importance of this debate, I have been persuaded of the case for legalisation; I wasn’t vehemently opposed to assisted dying before; but I am much more convinced now for this crucial change in the law. This issue evokes real-life experiences for millions who have seen their ill relatives suffer in pain — it is time now to act and make this crucial change.