A terminally ill woman is endorsing efforts to amend the law pertaining to assisted suicide.
Bone cancer sufferer Jenny Carruthers from Bath stated: “There is a chance for some peace and a better death.”
Speaking as lawmakers in Jersey are set to discuss legislation later, Dursley, Gloucestershire resident Nadine Thomas expressed her desire for change. Thomas is a blood cancer patient.
However, Devizes MP Danny Kruger is fighting to keep the current legislation in place and claims that assisted dying laws are being taken advantage of globally.
He went on to say that funding for improved palliative care was necessary.
The term “assisted dying” typically refers to a scenario in which a terminally ill patient obtains lethal medication from a medical professional and administers it themselves.
The government last rejected changes to the law in July 2022, but even though Jersey is a part of the British Isles, it has its own laws and is now debating whether or not to allow assisted dying.
The guitarist for Dr. Feelgood, Gypie Mayo, was Ms. Carruthers’ late partner. In 2013, he passed away from cancer.
“In the last 10 months when it spread to his spine, he was in screaming agony,” she continued.
“We tried every possible solution to lessen his pain, including countless specialist pain clinics and palliative care, but nothing was able to address the sides.
“It never left him, it was a burning, electrical pain.”
What laws govern euthanasia and assisted suicide?
Liz Carr calls the assisted dying debate “terrifying” for people with disabilities.
Mr. Mayo’s final birthday celebration was hosted by Ms. Carruthers and his family four months prior to his death.
“He would have chosen a time soon after that [to die] had he had the choice,” she continued.
Ms. Carruthers wishes to pass away at home despite having terminal bone cancer.
“I don’t want to lose the ability to take care of myself, to get to the toilet on time,” she stated.
“I’m going to find it very difficult to have someone care for me.”
Broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen, who recently joined the Dignitas assisted dying clinic in Switzerland and has stage four lung cancer, is spearheading a well-publicized campaign for assisted dying.
According to English law, euthanasia is forbidden and is regarded as either murder or manslaughter.
Additionally, it became unlawful in England and Wales to support or encourage a suicide under the Suicide Act of 1961.
‘A dignified death’
Mrs. Thomas has also called for change, stating that she may eventually “be paralysed” if she doesn’t receive treatment and that her liver, kidneys, and bowel could all fail.
“I don’t want my family to have to sit there and watch me just vegetate in a bed in pain,” she stated.
Another terminally ill person is her father-in-law.
“The antibiotics have helped him live longer, and in the last three months he has become doubly incontinent, he can’t get out of bed, dementia has started to take over,” said Mrs. Thomas.
“He would have died a dignified death three months ago with his family around him,” her husband Rob Thomas continued.
Care Not Killing and a number of MPs have fiercely opposed any changes to the law pertaining to assisted dying.
Critics cite instances from nations such as Canada, where assisted suicide is lawful as of 2016.
Adults with terminal illnesses can use Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying programme, also known as Maid.
According to a 2022 report, maid provision accounted for 4.1% of all deaths in Canada.
A homeless man reportedly applied for assisted suicide that year in an attempt to end his life without a place to live. He retracted his Maid application and $60,000 was raised to find him a home after his story was made public.
This, according to critics, is a classic case of assisted dying laws being abused.
“We should better support the dying and not give this large new right to people who might abuse it quickly,” Devizes MP Mr. Kruger told the BBC.
“Making sure people have a decent death should be the focus of all of our resources, including money.
“There is abuse of these assisted dying laws in various ways. For example, people who suffer from eating disorders or mental illnesses could be eligible for assisted suicide.
“No country yet has been able to do this right and make it safe for the vulnerable.”
